What is cancer screening?
Some cancers can be detected early, when treatment is more likely to be effective. Tests have been developed to find these very early cancers in healthy people, well before any symptoms appear.
Currently, there are tests available through national population-based screening programs for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and bowel cancer. These tests are free of charge for those who are eligible.
Cancer screening is an important way to detect cancer early, when it is smaller, less likely to have spread to other parts of the body, and more treatment options are available – significantly increasing the chances of successful treatment
We understand you might be busy, but taking time for cancer screening could save your life.
Australia’s screening programs are based on the Population-based Screening Framework. This framework helps the government decide whether the benefits of screening will outweigh the risks.
They consider who will be benefit and the following factors:
- whether the condition has a pre-symptomatic stage that can be found through screening
- if there is a suitable test to identify the condition
- whether suitable treatment options exist for people who are diagnosed through screening
- if there are facilities available for testing and treatment.