AIHW data show strong re-engagement with the national screening program, supporting earlier detection and better outcomes.
More Australians are returning for repeat bowel cancer screening than ever before, with new data showing strong re-engagement in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) and reinforcing the role of regular testing in detecting bowel cancer earlier and reducing mortality.
The latest National Bowel Cancer Screening Program monitoring report 2026, released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), showed 83.5% of participants returned to screen again when reinvited, marking a continued improvement in participation across the program.
Between January 2023 and December 2024, around 6.4 million Australians aged 50–74 years were invited to take part in the program. Almost 2.7 million people participated, representing a participation rate of 42%.
AIHW spokesperson Moira Hewitt said the findings reinforce the value of regular screening in improving outcomes for people with bowel cancer.
“The latest screening results reinforce the importance of regular screening, with early detection leading to significantly better outcomes,” she said.
Research conducted by the AIHW has shown that people who participated in the program were more likely to have bowel cancer detected at an earlier stage, when treatment was more effective, and were less likely to die from the disease.
Among participants, 73,724 people received a positive screening result, equating to a screening positivity rate of 5.8%. Of those with a positive result, 85% reported undergoing a follow-up diagnostic assessment.
The report found that among people who completed follow-up investigations after a positive screening result, around one in 29 were diagnosed with confirmed or suspected bowel cancer.
Screening also continued to play a key role in cancer prevention by identifying potentially pre-cancerous abnormalities that could be removed or treated during diagnostic assessment before they progressed to bowel cancer.
“Regular screening every two years is important for finding changes early, so it’s encouraging to see such a high proportion of people returning to get screened again,” Ms Hewitt said.
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Since the program commenced in August 2006, more than 17,000 bowel cancers have been detected through the NBCSP. Over the same period, mortality rates among Australians aged 50–74 fell substantially, from an estimated 44 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006 to 23 deaths per 100,000 people in 2025.
In 2025, an estimated 6,941 new cases of bowel cancer were diagnosed in Australians aged 50–74, accounting for almost half of all bowel cancer diagnoses nationally. Bowel cancer remained the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer across all age groups.
The report also provided early insights into participation among younger Australians following the expansion of eligibility. Since 1 July 2024, people aged 45–49 have been able to request a free screening kit through the National Cancer Screening Register.
Of the 236,421 kits requested by people in this age group, 56.2% were completed and returned. A positive screening result was recorded in 4.7% of participants, prompting further diagnostic assessment.
Ms Hewitt said the findings underlined the importance of encouraging eligible Australians to complete the test when invited.
“If you receive a screening kit in the mail, it is important to complete it,” she said. “It is free and simple to complete and could save your life.”
The NBCSP, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, mails free bowel screening kits to eligible Australians aged 50–74 every two years.
