FECRI’s focus is in fighting cancer through research but the Institute is supporting a move encouraging people to take proactive and preventative action in a bowel screening test.

Screening can help detect pre-cancerous polyps for removal during colonoscopy, or detect cancer in its earliest stages.

FECRI honorary director George Kannourakis has launched Ballarat South Rotary’s annual Bowelscan campaign. Rotary will subsidise Bowlscan kits through pharmacies across the city in May.

Rotary Bowelscan district coordinator Gordon Williamson said this year's campaign had a focus on learning about bowel cancer. In Ballarat, he said it was important for members and the wider community to hear about the work of FECRI, including the specialist research from PhD candidate Jason Kelly.

Mr Williamson said Rotary aimed to aimed to reach younger at-risk Australians, particularly those aged in their 40s, who are not yet eligible for the federal government’s free screening program.

Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in Australia, including 455 lives of those aged under 55 each year.

But early detection and treatment has a 90 per cent survival rate for bowel cancer patients, according to Bowel Cancer Australia, only, fewer than 40 per cent of cases are detected early

Rotary Bowelscan kits cost $15 and include pathology testing, post and results to yourself and your nominated doctor.

Kits require a “brush” water sample rather than faecal material. Tests looks for blood, often undectected by the naked eye, in your bowel movement but not for bowel cancer.

The kits can also be purchase online at rotarybowelscan.com.au.

Rotary District 9780’s Bowelscan program, including Ballarat South and established in Belmont Geelong, is the largest operator of Bowelscan in Australia.