Wyndham House Clinic GP Dr John Guymer said he'd recently spoken to two people with severe metastatic bowel cancer who had confessed to not completing the screening.
“It's tragic because if they had, they could have had early treatment,” he said.
This comes as Cancer Council Victoria reports two-thirds of eligible Victorian men are not using the free lifesaving test, which arrives in their mailbox every two years.
Local men are being urged to complete the test, especially as many spend more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When you receive the test don’t put it in the cupboard and forget about it — you could be ignoring the chance to save your life,” Cancer Council screening program manager Kate Broun said.
Only one-third of Victorian men aged 50 to 54 are participating in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, according to Cancer Council.
While bowel cancer is Australia's second-biggest cancer killer, Dr Guymer said many were put off by the thought of completing the test.
“Many people are disgusted by the prospect of handling faeces,” he said.
“Plus the test is a little bit complicated. You need to follow the instructions closely, and take two separate samples, storing one in the fridge while you complete the other.”
Dr Guymer is urging locals to look past these hurdles and complete the test.
“Men can think they're indestructible,” he said.
“But for both sexes, there are large groups of people who don't complete the test.”
The risk of developing bowel cancer increases from the age of 50.
People who have a family history of bowel cancer or polyps or who have had an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, are also at risk.
Other factors include excess body fat and physical inactivity, high intake of particular foods such as processed meat, high alcohol consumption and smoking.
For more information, visit: bowelcancer.org.au
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