Southland District mayor Gary Tong is encouraging participation in the Southern DHB’s National Bowel Screening Programme, after recently taking part himself.

Mr Tong admitted that after receiving his kit in the mail, he left it sitting untouched for some time.

“I didn’t open the packet for a while – I put it at the back of my mind because I had a lot on at the time,” he said.

“Then I got a little nudge from [partner] Sharon and decided to get on with it.”

He says the test was “not difficult at all – in fact it was very easy, clean and safe, and it only took a matter of minutes.”

After posting his test away, Mr Tong received his result less than a week later and was very pleased to be given the all clear.

“Now I’m on the National Bowel Screening Programme register and will undertake the test every two years,” he said.

“I totally endorse the programme and am urging other eligible southern residents to take part as well.”

Mr Tong had a special message for those who have reservations about taking the test.

“To those people like me who sometimes worry about what is involved in doing these things, I say just go for it. I found it a really simple, positive experience,” he said.

The Southern DHB National Bowel Screening Programme has now been running for more than a year.

As at the end of April 2019, it has detected 68 cases of bowel cancer and 737 cases of polyps, which can develop into cancer over time.

According to the Ministry of Health, people diagnosed with early stage bowel cancer who receive treatment early have a 90% chance of long-term survival.

Screening can detect pre-cancerous polyps, or cancer at an early stage when it can often be successfully treated. It is free of charge for people aged 60 to 74 years of age who are eligible for public healthcare.

Invitations for those eligible to participate are sent through the mail, followed by a test kit.

The kits are easy and simple to do, and samples are returned by mail for testing

For more information visit timetoscreen.nz or freephone 0800 924 432.