The “Beat Bowel Cancer” Project

The “Beat Bowel Cancer Project” is a new initiative being developed under the auspices of the SA Academic Health Science and Translation Centre.

Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer recorded by Australian cancer registries and the second highest cause of cancer death.

Bowel cancer is highly preventable, amenable to population screening and when detected and treated at earlier stages can often be cured. A very large proportion (87%) of the deaths from bowel cancer in South Australia could and should be prevented by applying knowledge we already have. Further progress can be made with scientific advances.

The project has the goal of markedly reducing (eliminating) preventable deaths from colorectal cancer in the South Australian population via:

• Increasing broader uptake and application of existing evidence
• Generating new evidence and accelerating translation

Key targets include:

1. Increased participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program ((i) FOBT, with (ii) colonoscopy follow-up), in the SA population as a whole, and in sub-groups at special risk.

2. Application of best-evidence in clinical settings for prevention, early detection, and higher risk surveillance, diagnosis and treatment, in accordance with clinical practice guidelines and using optimal care pathways.

3. Quality population-based interventions to reduce lifestyle risk factors.

4. Increased enrolment in clinical trials.

5. Health system modifications to reduce barriers and increase access to high quality and appropriate services.

6. Personalised risk-based interventions.

7. Research to advance knowledge: chemoprevention (calcium, aspirin, NSAIDs); screening and early detection; behaviour change; treatment and management.

For more information contact: steve.wesselingh@sahmri.com orcaroline.miller@sahmri.com