Bowel Cancer Testing

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (15:27): Now that the opposition leader has finished his set piece to camera, I will make my grieve. I rise to recognise the thousands of South Australian families, and those in my community, affected by bowel cancer, and I acknowledge the earlier remarks made in this place by the member for Frome and others. I also rise to emphasise the vital importance of bowel cancer awareness.

It is a difficult fact that over 4,000 Australians die from bowel cancer each year. At the same time, if detected early bowel cancer can be successfully treated in 90 per cent of cases. As a community, and through government and government agencies, we have taken important steps to ensure as early a detection of bowel cancer as possible. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program provides testing kits to Australians aged between 50 and 74 years of age. It is important work, and I thank every Public Service official and health professional who assists the program in their daily work.

I have been very alarmed by recent studies that suggest that only 39 per cent of those who receive the free testing kits actually use them. There is no room for complacency. Bowel cancer begins when cells in the bowel lining grow too quickly. These growths are often benign but, over time, some growths become cancerous. Bowel cancer risks increase for those who have other inflammatory bowel conditions, for those aged 50 years or over, or those who have any history of bowel cancer or polyps in their family.

I understand that people diagnosed through a screening kit are twice as likely to be at the early stage of cancer. At this point, the cancer is still localised and, as a consequence, people diagnosed at this point have the very best chance of being treated. I urge every person in my community to participate in testing and to continue to participate. I remind us all that bowel cancer can develop without any noticeable symptoms.

Earlier in my remarks, I mentioned that bowel cancer has the second highest mortality rate in Australia, or of Australian cancers. Lung cancer continues to have the highest mortality rate: 9,021 Australians tragically passed away from lung cancer in 2017; 4,114 died from bowel cancer; and 3,453 died from prostate cancer.

There were 3,114 who died of breast cancer, although the reporting needs to take into account breast cancer affecting women in different measures. I break that down in this respect: 2,950 women suffered from breast cancer and died of that cancer. If the measures of breast cancer were combined, then the total would be well over 6,000. I know the awful impact of breast cancer in my community. I wish to emphasise to the house that when an individual in our community suffers from cancer of any type, that person of course suffers individually but also their partner suffers, their friends suffer, their children suffer and the entire community of family and friends are deeply affected.

I want to acknowledge and place on record my thanks to the nurses in my community and other allied health professionals who assist those with cancer. It is at times difficult work. We are deeply grateful for it. We know that quite often nurses are dealing with the experience of cancer in their own family. I have known some nurses in my community whose care and attention for those who are suffering from cancer has been extraordinary.