With more than 14,000 Australians diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, Australia has one of the highest rates of the disease in the world.Bowel Cancer Australia is working hard to reduce these numbers, and it’s new campaign Don’t Be A Fool, Test Your Stool! is sure to get attention.
The campaign is a fun and light-hearted approach to promote a serious topic that all Australian adults need to be aware of, especially those aged 50 and over.
As well as raising awareness, Bowel Cancer Australia has released a new app for those who are technology savvy.
Bowel Cancer Australia chief executive Mr Julien Wiggins said the days of the passive patient are long gone.
“The ways people seek information, their interaction with health professionals and how they manage their conditions are now significantly different to what they were a decade ago,” he added. “Technology is a key driver of that change. We’re using it to make things a little bit easier for patients and others wanting information on bowel cancer, our second biggest cancer killer.”
The comprehensive bowel cancer app, believed to be the first of its kind globally, provides easy access to accurate information about bowel cancer, its prevention, diagnosis and management.
It comes in the same month a World Health Organisation (WHO) report that found cancer is now the number one killer of Australians with bowel cancer being one of the most common causes of cancer deaths.
“In Australia, we have one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world. Despite the multitude of health apps available and the prevalence of bowel cancer, no one’s really put the two together, until now,” explained Mr Wiggins.
“Our bowel cancer app is responding to the changing needs of bowel cancer patients and their families or carers.”
“For example, as more oral chemotherapies become available enabling people to receive treatment at home, we expect to see a shift away from written patient treatment diaries to online diaries that can then be emailed to the patient’s specialist.”
“We’ve also designed the app to be easily personalised. It has the capability to store screening reminders, treatment and mood diary entries and even record notes from medical appointments.”
“By making this important information available on devices such as mobile phones and tablets, more people have the opportunity to share knowledge that can potentially save lives.”
“More than 129,000 Australians are expected to be diagnosed with bowel cancer between now and 2020. With 65% of Australian households having a smartphone user and 33% having a tablet, the app is a very practical tool,” said Mr Wiggins.
The bowel cancer app is free and available for Apple and Android smart phones and can be downloaded via the App Store or Google Play respectively. iPad and tablet apps coming soon.
Other features of the app include:
- Interactive treatment and screening pathways
- Diet and lifestyle strategies to reduce the risk of bowel cancer
- Videos such as how to perform a bowel cancer screening test and polyp removal
- Quick links to Bowel Cancer Australia’s nurse and nutrition advisory services
- Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) for medicines used in bowel cancer
- Bowel-friendly recipes and meal plans
- The latest statistics on bowel cancer in Australia
Go to the bowel cancer app on the App Store now (for those with an Apple device).
Go to the bowel cancer app on Google Play now (for those with an Android device).
Talk to you GP or Pharmacist today about a bowel cancer screening test, or or call 1800 555 494.
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