Latest news with #NationalBowelScreeningProgramme
NZ Herald
a day ago
- Health
- NZ Herald
Bowel cancer: Less than half of screening kits sent to Lakes residents returned
Almost half of bowel cancer screening kits sent to eligible Lakes residents have not been returned, Health New Zealand data shows. It comes as a Rotorua Stage 4 bowel cancer survivor has encouraged recipients to do the free tests that 'could be a lifesaver'. The National Bowel Screening Programme was
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Health
- NZ Herald
Tauranga cancer survivor urges bowel screening as almost half of kits not returned
When broken down by ethnicity, fewer than half of the kits sent to Māori, Pasifika and Asian people have been returned – 41.9%, 41.8% and 33.1%. Ferguson said she got upset hearing these statistics because there were 'so many people under the age of 60 that are screaming out to have those kits'. 'They know they have something wrong and they're just not being heard so therefore they're not getting screened because doctors are either saying 'you're too young' or 'it's something else'. 'That's wasted resources.' She said the scary thing with bowel cancer was someone could have it and have no symptoms. This was the case with Tauranga man Paul Blears, who said it was 'a hell of a shock' being diagnosed with bowel cancer after he used his screening kit. 'By doing that test, you are catching things early … which will avoid late-stage diagnosis,' Ferguson said. The National Bowel Screening Programme was introduced in the Health NZ Bay of Plenty region in May 2022. It was the last of the former 20 district health boards to introduce it after the programme started in July 2017. People are invited to join the programme at age 60 then sent a free home test kit every two years until age 74. The Government is gradually lowering the eligibility age to 58, to be in effect nationwide by March. The Health NZ data showed 103 cancers were detected between January 1, 2023, and May 26, 2025, and 78 surgeries were carried out to remove bowel cancer. Health NZ noted this may include people who had surgery who did not have their cancer detected via a screening kit, and that some patients may have had surgery in another district, or privately. Patients who chose chemotherapy treatment would not be recorded in surgery numbers, and others newly diagnosed may be waiting for surgery. Tauranga bowel cancer survivor Rachael Ferguson pictured in 2022. Photo / Andrew Warner Almost five years since her diagnosis, Ferguson said her scans and blood test results were 'great'. 'I feel great, which is the main thing,' said Ferguson, now aged 37. She gave birth to her son George in September 2022. 'He was such a good baby … he's really come into his own kind of personality now.' Ferguson said she had recently completed a reformer Pilates instructor course and would soon start teaching. She had also been doing paid partnerships on social media. With a background in early childhood education, she had done some relief teaching. 'After the diagnosis and also becoming a mum myself, I just felt like I was ready to leave that side of things. 'It's just been trying to find something else.' Bowel cancer is the second-highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand, killing about three Kiwis every day. One in 10 Kiwis diagnosed are under 50. New research by Bowel Cancer New Zealand showed one in four adults were unable to name a single symptom of bowel cancer, which Ferguson said was 'pretty concerning'. Bowel Cancer New Zealand chief executive Peter Huskinson said symptom awareness was the 'strongest line of defence', with screening currently limited to those aged 58 and older. 'Acting early, before symptoms become severe, can mean the difference between a treatable diagnosis at the GP and a late-stage emergency presentation. 'That free test in your mailbox doesn't just detect cancer – it can stop it before it starts,' he said. 'Don't leave it in a drawer. Put it by the loo and get it done.' Bowel cancer symptoms Bleeding from the bottom or in your poo A persistent change in bowel habits Ongoing, periodic or severe abdominal pain Unexplained weight loss or fatigue A lump or swelling in the abdomen Source: Bowel Cancer NZ Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.
NZ Herald
22-06-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
'The Best Birthday Present I Ever Got'
Northlander George Dods shares how a free bowel screening kit led to early cancer detection — and a second chance. When a green envelope arrived in the post not long after his 60th birthday, Mr Dods didn't think much of it. Like many, he'd seen the bowel screening ads on TV, but the idea of actually doing the test? That was a different story. 'I put it on my desk, then it got buried under paper… found it, buried it again — that happened a few times,' he laughs. 'I didn't avoid it on purpose, but life gets busy. It took a few months before I actually sat down and did it.' What changed? 'Honestly,' he says, 'I realised how easy it was. You do it at home, in private. No one needs to know. The most public part is posting it back.' Mr Dods didn't have any symptoms. No family history. No pressing reason to act. But the kit showed up, and thankfully, he followed through. The result: a positive test and a quick call from the medical team. 'That moment triggered everything,' he says. 'Suddenly I was booked for a colonoscopy. I remember thinking, 'What even is a colonoscopy?' I had no idea what I was in for — but it turned out to be a lot less scary than I imagined.' During the procedure, Mr Dods found himself watching the screen alongside the doctor. 'I laughed out loud. The doctor asked what was funny, and I told him, 'Doc, that's a part of me I never thought I'd see!'' The colonoscopy confirmed that there was something suspicious in his colon – and that it needed to be removed. For Mr Dods, the choice was clear. 'I said, 'I'm only 60. There's more I want to do.' So I committed fully. Changed my diet, did all the prep, and showed up for surgery on the 27th of March — ready to go.' Fortunately, the surgery went smoothly. The cancer hadn't spread. Radiation wasn't needed. And his care team made sure he was supported every step of the way. 'There was always a plan. That made a huge difference,' he says. 'I never felt left hanging.' Ten days later, he got the news: the operation was a complete success. 'They got it all. I was over the moon. I told the doctor to thank the whole team — everyone I dealt with was outstanding.' Now, he's sharing his story to encourage others to do the test — especially those who've put the envelope to one side. 'I'm not shy about it. It's part of life. We need to talk about it more. If it wasn't for that screening test arriving in the mail, I wouldn't have known anything was wrong. I had no symptoms. I'd never have gone to the doctor.' He pauses, then smiles. 'It really was the best birthday present I've had in a long time. Yeah, I had to do a bit of work to get the benefit — but it was worth it.' For Mr Dods, the message is simple: 'None of us need to die of bowel cancer. Caught early, it's treatable. And this programme gives us that chance. So do the test. Don't put it off.' A Personal Mission: Kylah's Mahi to Protect Whānau For Northland health promoter Kylah Pere, the National Bowel Screening Programme is more than just a job — it's deeply personal. 'I lost my aunty to bowel cancer at a young age. She had no symptoms, no warning. That's why I do this mahi — to help make sure others don't miss the chance she never had.' Kylah works at the heart of the programme in Te Tai Tokerau, encouraging people to take the free test that could save their life. She sees firsthand how early detection through screening gives whānau more time — and more options. 'It's a simple test you do at home, in private. It doesn't cost anything, but the value it brings is immeasurable.' Her message is especially important for Māori, who are more likely to be diagnosed later and face worse outcomes. 'This programme is a taonga for our people,' she says. 'Bowel cancer can hide without symptoms. Screening helps us catch it early.' Kylah hopes her work inspires others to look after themselves — and each other. 'When you do the test, you're not just protecting yourself. You're protecting your whakapapa. Your tamariki, your mokopuna, your whānau.' You'll be sent a free bowel screening kit every two years if you're aged 60 to 74. If you've got a kit at home, do the test – what are you waiting for! It's quick, easy, and could save your life.
NZ Herald
14-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Bowel cancer: High-risk patients in Manawatū affected by halt on colonoscopies, minister told
The gastroenterology department had attempted to relieve pressure by recruiting more staff, referring patients to other regions, outsourcing and holding extra sessions on weekends. Despite these measures, wait lists had continued to grow, leading to the 'difficult' decision to pause surveillance colonoscopies in November. Symptomatic colonoscopies and bowel screening colonoscopies, in which disease was more likely to be detected, continued. The briefing showed that the pause affected a group of people who had been identified through the National Bowel Screening Programme as needing a surveillance colonoscopy once a year. This group of about 60 patients was deemed high-risk for developing colorectal cancer. 'Consequently, these high-risk [bowel screening] participants are among those patients awaiting a colonoscopy and are adversely impacted by the decision to pause surveillance in MidCentral,' the briefing to the minister said. Officials said there was a 'clinical risk' in not offering a surveillance colonoscopy for people with a history of polyps or a family history of bowel cancer. Patient Voice Aotearoa chairman Malcolm Mulholland was one of about 850 patients who received a letter in December to say their colonoscopy was on hold. He said he was particularly concerned about the 60 patients identified as high-risk of developing colorectal cancer. 'I sincerely hope that no patient awaiting a surveillance colonoscopy has subsequently been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, or worse, died,' he said. The Herald asked Health NZ whether the high-risk group had since received colonoscopies. In a statement, MidCentral group director operations Sarah Fenwick did not directly answer questions about this group. She said surveillance colonoscopies resumed in February, including additional lists on Saturdays at least twice a month. The gastroenterology department had also outsourced 187 colonoscopies to the private sector, with 80 getting their operation so far. In February, Health NZ said there were two specialist vacancies at the service. These roles were still being filled. 'Priority has been given to locum gastroenterologist support, and we are actively recruiting to fill our workforce vacancies,' Fenwick said. The briefing to the minister said other regions were also under pressure to stop surveillance colonoscopies, but MidCentral was the only region to go ahead with a pause. Health NZ data showed that about 66% of patients in the region were waiting more than the maximum recommended time for a colonoscopy (120 days for a surveillance colonoscopy) – the highest rate in the country. It comes as the Government plans to extend the age range for bowel cancer screening nationwide. The screening age will be lowered from 60 years old to 58, beginning with two regions in October.
