March 4, 2016
Bowel Cancer New Zealand is concerned there is still no statistically significant
improvements in bowel cancer survival rates for 2006-2010 in New Zealand compared to
nearly 4% improvements in bowel cancer survival for Australian men and 5% for Australian
women.
One of the reasons suggested for this lag are differences in diagnostic and primary care
treatment pathways between the countries.
Bowel Cancer New Zealand (BCNZ) spokesperson Mary Bradley says, “Australia had a
bowel cancer screening programme begin in 2006; meanwhile New Zealand still has no
decision about a national bowel cancer screening programme!”
“We know that Kiwis are dying because of a lack of early diagnosis, which comes down to
the lack of a national screening programme. BCNZ has been calling for a rollout of screening
since 2010 and yet we are no closer to a firm commitment and timeline from the
government,” says Bradley.
New Zealand GPs experience difficulties obtaining timely referral to specialists when they
have concerns about patients with bowel cancer symptoms. New Zealand also has marked
delays in terms of access to colonoscopy compared to Australia.
Bradley says, “New Zealand has been delaying action on bowel cancer for far too long! We
are losing as many to bowel cancer as both prostate and breast cancers combined, with
more than 100 deaths a month. BCNZ have long been calling on our government to address
this issue. And yet, still we wait while more than 1200 New Zealanders continue to die each
year.”
BCNZ encourages open discussion about bowel cancer with medical professionals and
avoiding ‘sitting on your symptoms’. Symptoms include:
• Bleeding from the bottom or seeing blood in the toilet after a bowel motion;
• Change of bowel motions over several weeks without returning to normal;
• Persistent or periodic severe pain the abdomen;
• A lump or mass in the abdomen;
• Tiredness and loss of weight for no particular reason;
• Anaemia.
Those who don’t live in the Waitemata DHB area or have symptoms or a family history of
bowel cancer and want to do regular checks can talk to their GP or buy a commercially
available bowel screening kit, which involves the family doctor, at Life or Unichem
pharmacies.
More information on bowel cancer and BCNZ can be found at
http://www.beatbowelcancer.org.nz
For further information:
Mary Bradley,
Bowel Cancer New Zealand (BCNZ)
+64 21 027 51924
mailto:mary.bradley@beatbowelcancer.org.nz
About Bowel Cancer New Zealand
• Bowel Cancer New Zealand (BCNZ) is a patient and family-led charity organisation.
• The registered charity was founded in 2010 by a group of people affected by bowel
cancer, committed to improving bowel cancer awareness and outcomes for people
with the disease.
• BCNZ aims to provide clear and up-to-date information about the disease,
symptoms, what to do if diagnosed and to support patients and families affected by
bowel cancer.
• The ultimate aim of BCNZ is to prevent lives being lost to this disease and to promote
the introduction of a national screening program in New Zealand.