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Cancer screening
Providing comprehensive Cancer screening to ensure your healthy start in life
Cancer Screening: detect early, act early
Cancer screening is a simple test that can detect early signs of cancer – before symptoms appear. Early detection means treatment is more effective and less invasive. In some cases, screening can even prevent cancer by identifying pre-cancerous changes.
Australia offers population-based cancer screening programs
Bowel cancer
Breast cancer
Bowel cancer
Bowel Cancer Screening
Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world. Around one in 15 Australians will develop bowel cancer during their lifetime. When identified early, more than 90% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBSCP) aims to reduce deaths from bowel cancer through early detection of the disease.
Through the NBCSP, a free bowel screening home test kit is sent to the Medicare-registered address of eligible people aged 50-74. The test is used to collect tiny samples of two separate bowel motions (poo), which are then analysed to detect tiny traces of blood, which may not be visible to the naked eye. The screening test cannot diagnose bowel cancer, but the results will indicate whether a further test (usually a colonoscopy) is needed to rule out bowel cancer. Anyone with potential bowel cancer symptoms should not complete the home test kit and should instead speak to their doctor about these symptoms as soon as possible.
The test kits contain step-by-step instructions and a reply-paid envelope, to return the samples for pathology testing. The samples are processed, and the results are sent to the participant and their nominated doctor within 2 weeks.
More information can be found on the NBCSP website, including in other languages. You can also talk to your doctor if you have any questions about bowel cancer and screening.
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Request a replacement bowel screening home test kit
Breast Cancer Screening
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Australian women and nine out of ten women diagnosed with it have no family history of breast cancer. Breast screening can find breast cancer early, before it can be seen or felt by a woman or her doctor. Ninety-five out of 100 women have a normal breast screening result. This means no sign of breast cancer has been found on their x-rays, however finding breast cancer early means there are more treatment options.
BreastScreen invites and recommends women aged between 50 and 74 years, without breast cancer symptoms to have a screening mammogram every two years. This is because the evidence of benefit is strongest in this age group. Women aged between 40 and 49 years, or 75 years and older can also have a free breast screen (screening mammogram) through BreastScreen services.
BreastScreen services are conveniently located throughout Australia. Gold Coast services are permanently located at Burleigh Waters, Helensvale, Robina and Southport. A mobile unit also visits Beaudesert, Eagleby, Elanora, Jimboomba, Nerang, North Tamborine, and Pimpama annually.
Phoning 13 20 50 will connect women to their nearest BreastScreen service to make an appointment. Eligible women can also book online by visiting the BreastScreen Queensland website. Some after-hours appointments are available. Women do not need a doctor’s referral. Women may seek interpreter assistance when booking by first phoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (13 14 50). Most women who have a screening mammogram will get a result of ‘no evidence of breast cancer’. Women should continue to know the look and feel of their breasts between screening mammograms and report any changes to their doctor.
Around one in every 20 women 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. Learn more about what happens at a BreastScreen Queensland Assessment clinic – see Having follow up tests | BreastScreen Queensland.
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Cervical Cancer Screening
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Most cases occur in individuals who have never screened or do not screen regularly.
Regular cervical screening tests every 5 years can help protect you against cervical cancer.
Why get a Cervical Screening Test?
Detects human papillomavirus (HPV) – a very common virus and the cause of almost all cervical cancer
Identifies early changes before cancer develops
Can be done every 5 years if results are normal
If you’re not sure when to do a Cervical Screening Test, you can ask your doctor.
What is the Cervical Screening Test?
In 2017, the Pap test (also known as the Pap smear) was replaced by the more effective Cervical Screening Test. The Cervical Screening Test is done by collecting a sample of cells from your cervix or vagina to detect the presence of HPV – a common infection and the cause of almost all cervical cancers.
Detecting HPV early means it can be monitored or investigated further if needed, well before it has the chance to develop into cancer.
Who is eligible for a subsidised test?
You are eligible for a subsidised Cervical Screening Test if you:
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Are a woman or a person with a cervix
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Are aged 25 to 74
Have ever had sexual contact (of any kind, with anyone)
Screening is for everyone
It doesn’t matter if you:
Are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or straight
Have or haven’t had the HPV vaccine
Are no longer sexually active
Have gone through menopause
Have had one or multiple sexual partners
Have experienced traditional cutting or circumcision
Have had a baby or are pregnant (tell your doctor)
If you’ve had a full or partial hysterectomy, check with your doctor about your screening needs.
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to discuss their cervical screening options with their GP.
Your screening options
You have a choice on how your Cervical Screening Test is done. There are 2 options and you can pick which way is right for you:
Self-collected sample – do your own test using a self-swab
Clinician-collected sample – have your healthcare provider (doctor or nurse) do the test for you using a speculum
Both options are safe and accurate. If you are not sure which test to choose, you can ask your doctor.
Where can you do a Cervical Screening Test?
Your doctor’s clinic
A community health centre
A women’s health centre
A family planning clinic
An Aboriginal Health service
Just call to book an appointment and let them know you’d like to have a Cervical Screening Test. If you think you would like to do the Cervical Screening Test self-collect option, mention this when you make the appointment. If you don’t have a preferred healthcare provider, healthdirect.gov.au can help you find a healthcare provider to book your cervical screening with.