Learn how to better care for your bowel on the Giant Knitted Bowel Virtual Tour

This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Western Victoria PHN (PHN) is pleased to bring to you the Giant Knitted Bowel Virtual Tour.

Join us on this educational journey through the bowel to learn about the symptoms of bowel cancer, how to prevent it and all about the free Bowel Screening Home Test Kit:

The Giant Knitted Bowel is the work of some very dedicated, generous people who three years ago knitted and weaved 50kms (30kgs) of wool into this enlarged replica. Complete with polyps, tumours and haemorrhoids, it demonstrates what an unhealthy bowel looks like to educate the public on the dangers of bowel cancer and how to prevent it.

Bowel cancer claims the lives of 103 Australians every week (5,336 people a year). While the risk of bowel cancer increases significantly with age, the disease doesn’t discriminate, affecting men and women, young and old.

The virtual tour was produced to deliver a very important message: know the symptoms of bowel cancer, use the home bowel screening kit and see your GP if you have any symptoms. With early detection, 90 per cent of bowel cancer cases can be cured.

Better care for your bowel

The project is in response to the Corio Norlane Bowel Screening Project rates sitting below the national average and emphasises WVPHN’s dedication to maintaining focus on our smaller communities – our grass roots. The project also promotes the use of the home bowel screening kit (especially by 50 to 74 year olds) which is sent to members of the community when they turn 50 as part of the Australian Government’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

WVPHN would like to thank Barwon South West Regional Integrated Cancer Service, South West Regional Cancer Centre, South West Healthcare and the Victorian Government funding for making this project possible. Special thanks to Claire Norman, Dr Brendan Kay, FitZ Media Productions, and Warrnambool Stadium for bringing this production to life.

More information

For more information on the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, visit the Australian Department of Health website

To check or update your National Cancer Screening Register record, call 1800 627 701.

To order a new home testing kit, visit the National Cancer Screening Register webpage.

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