Free bowel cancer screening extended to 1.6 million more patients

More than 1700 patients under 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, says Bowel Cancer Australia.

Patients aged 45-49 can soon request a free bowel cancer testing kit under Federal Government changes to screening age thresholds.

The new criteria announced in Tuesday’s federal budget will take effect from 1 July as part of a $39 million funding package for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.