The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) aims to reduce illness and death from bowel cancer through early detection or prevention of the disease.

The program now operates two models to help increase screening participation:  

1. mail-out model – The NBCSP invites eligible people aged between 50 and 74 years to screen for bowel cancer. Participants are sent a free, clean, easy to use test kit to complete at home. 
2. alternative access to kits model – The NBCSP now enables healthcare providers to bulk order program kits and issue them to eligible patients. Healthcare providers can help people who have never screened or are overdue for screening to take that positive next step, with patients more likely to do the test after discussion with a trusted healthcare professional. All kits handed to patients must be issued via the NCSR to ensure patients get their results. Learn how to get started with the alternative access to kits model.

Clinical Resources

• Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer
• NBCSP resources for the health sector 
• Information for health professionals | Cancer Council
• The role of general practice in the NBCSP

Patient Resources

• Order a replacement bowel test kit
• Manage your participation in the NBCSP
• NBCSP resources for patients
• Translated resources for patients 

Breast screening is proven to be effective in reducing breast cancer morbidity and mortality in women aged 50 to 74. BreastScreen Queensland offers free breast screening for asymptomatic women aged 40 and over and routinely invites and reminds women aged 50 to 74 to have a breast screen every two years. Some women are offered annual screening. (*Screening is provided to people who were born, present or identify as female).

As part of the Sistas Shawl program, First Nations women who screen at Gold Coast Service locations are presented a cultural shawl which can be worn or used during their screen – see Sistas Shawl | Gold Coast Health.

Around 5% of clients screened will be called back to a BreastScreen assessment clinic for more tests because the mammogram showed an abnormality. For most of these individuals, subsequent tests are normal and breast cancer is not found.

Health professionals can increase people’s confidence in breast screening by helping them to understand:

• the benefits and the limitations of the mammogram
• the importance of regular screening
• symptoms of breast cancer
• treatment options if they have an abnormality

Translated information resources are available online including Fact sheets and videos in several languages (including Auslan).

Patients can book a breast screen through BreastScreen Queensland by calling 13 20 50 or booking online. To find your nearest clinic, see Find a location | Breastscreen Queensland.

Resources

• BreastScreen Queensland
  • New patient resources:
    • Brochure: A short guide to breast screening
    • Video: What happens at a BreastScreen appointment
    • Video: What happens at a BreastScreen assessment clinic
• BreastScreen Queensland (Service) – Refer Your Patient (health.qld.gov.au) 
• Breast Imaging – Screening – Community HealthPathways Gold Coast 
• BSQ Screening vs Diagnostic Mammography– A Guide for General Practitioners
• Optimal care pathway for people with breast cancer
• Early detection of breast cancer
• Investigation of a new breast symptom
• BreastScreen Queensland education and training for health professionals
• Women from multicultural communities | BreastScreen Queensland

The National Cervical Screening Program reduces illness and death from cervical cancer with regular testing. The Cervical Screening Test looks for human papillomavirus (HPV). The program targets women and people with a cervix from 25 to 74 years of age.

Self-Collection

Under the National Cervical Screening Program, all participants can choose to screen using either a self-collected vaginal sample or a healthcare provider -collected sample from the cervix, accessed through a healthcare provider in both cases.

Recent evidence shows a Cervical Screening Test using a self-collected vaginal sample is as accurate in detecting HPV as a healthcare provider -collected sample taken from the cervix during a speculum examination. A summary of the evidence of self-collection sensitivity can be found in the National Cervical Screening Program Clinical Guidelines. 

Self-collection is not appropriate for patients that require a co-test, for example because they are symptomatic. Patients with symptoms that could indicate cervical abnormalities or cancer require diagnostic testing and should be managed in accordance with the National Cervical Screening Program Guidelines. 

Cervical Screening Self-Collection Tear-off Pads – Order Form

GCPHN provides a convenient tear-off pad version of the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Now you can choose to collect your own sample for cervical screening resource. Each pad contains 50 pages.

Other Resources

• National Cervical Screening Program
• NCSP resources for the health sector
• Providing cervical screening: for health professionals
• National Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines
• Self-collected vaginal samples: the evidence
• Cervical Screening – Comfort Check for Health Professionals