What is cancer screening?
Population-based cancer screening involves the systematic use of a test to identify individuals at risk of cancer.
The screening test is not intended to be diagnostic—rather it aims to identify individuals who should be referred for further investigation using diagnostic tests.
The aim of population-based cancer screening is to reduce the burden of this disease, either by detecting cancer at an earlier stage where treatment options are often more effective, or by detecting and treating abnormalities that if left may become cancerous.
National screening programs in Australia
Currently in Australia three cancers have met the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for approved population-based screening programs: bowel, breast and cervical cancer. Structured national programs exist for cancer screening through the
National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, BreastScreen Australia, and the National Cervical Screening Program.
More information on cancer screening
The AIHW monitors and publishes annual reports on the performance of these three programs.
To find breast screening, cervical screening and bowel screening reports and related publications go to the related pages or see cancer and screening publications.
For information about the screening programs, see www.cancerscreening.gov.au.
For further information about cancer screening data, contact the Cancer and Screening Unit on or 02 6244 1000.