Bowel Cancer Australia along with co-chairs Mr Steve Georganas MP and the Hon Dr David Gillespie MP today launched the Parliamentary Friends of Bowel Cancer, a non-partisan forum for parliamentarians to meet and interact with Bowel Cancer Australia and discuss matters relating to bowel cancer.
The Group was formed following the inaugural 2023 Call on Canberra event where early-onset patients met with MPs and Senators.
Two patients attending today’s launch informed the Group of the impact of early-onset bowel cancer as well as the opportunities and policy priorities that can improve health outcomes for those impacted by the disease.
Despite Australia experiencing a decline in bowel cancer incidence and mortality in people aged 50 and over, there is an alarming increase in early-onset bowel cancer (i.e. in those aged under 50).
“We are grateful to Mr Georganas and Dr Gillespie for co-chairing the Parliamentary Friends of Bowel Cancer and for the support of MPs and Senators in joining the Group,” said Bowel Cancer Australia CEO, Julien Wiggins.
“Bowel cancer is the deadliest cancer and the sixth leading cause of death overall for Australians aged 25-44,” he continued.
“Younger people are more likely to be diagnosed in the later stages of the disease, increasing the likelihood of aggressive treatment with physical, psychosocial, and quality of life outcomes that are uniquely challenging, especially with regards to fertility and ostomy management,” he added.
Bowel Cancer Australia is advocating for:
- investment in primary care funding to raise awareness of age bias;
- funding and implementation of screening age from 45 in accordance with updated clinical practice guideline recommendations; and
- increased funding for colonoscopy services to ensure the public healthcare system meets the clinically recommended wait times (<30 days).
