Pacific Bowel Screening
Our Pacific bowel screening participation in Waitematā for those aged 60-74yrs is about 45% (1,730 in 2021). This is lower than Maori and other populations.
The national bowel screening participation target is 60%).
We are keen to lift our bowel screening participation to > 90% before 31 December 2022. So, we need to reach some 1,000 (to 2,000) Pacific peoples.
In 2023, we expect this programme to extend to Pacific peoples (and Māori) aged 50-74 (8,000 Pacific peoples) because our Pacific are presenting at younger ages.
Pacific peoples did not usually experience bowel cancer some 30-40 years ago, but now our cases are increasing rapidly (due to risk factors - changes in diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol etc).
Our Pacific Bowel Screening team (Sini Taunaholo, Ausage Faaoso Setu and Elena Tauliani (The Fono) are our health promoters working with our communities to explain the process.
Our Waitemata Pacific Health service is now promoting bowel screening to eligible Pacific patients when they are in hospital.
The process only requires a small stool sample (pin/dot size), which you put in a small plastic bag and post as usual or drop off at a lab test.
About 2-3% of those screened (stool sample) will be positive, and they will be referred for colonoscopy. About 2-3% of those undergoing colonoscopy will be positive for cancer.
Importantly, bowel cancer if detected early can be removed successfully and stopped from returning.
Please encourage family members aged 60 to 74 years to get screened. Those who were part of the pilot bowel screening programme (now aged 55 - 60 yrs) are also eligible.