Breast screening and bowel cancer screening can save lives and improve health outcomes, but many people in NSW are still not taking part.
From July 2022 to June 2023, new campaigns will use Facebook and Instagram to raise awareness of cancer screening and motivate people to prioritise their health.
Sarah McGill, Deputy CEO and Director of Cancer Screening and Prevention at the Cancer Institute NSW, says this work is proven to make a difference.
“We know our campaigns are creating behavioural change – they are directly helping more people take part in potentially life-saving cancer screening.
“With social media, we can reach people where they naturally spend their time online, and we can give them information that’s helpful and engaging.”
Increasing participation in screening and early detection programs is a key priority for the NSW Cancer Plan.
“We are also calling on our partners to help share these vital health messages and drive home the importance of regular cancer screening,” Ms. McGill says.
Digital toolkits for breast screening and bowel cancer screening are available to help other organisations share the campaign.
How do the campaigns work?
Run through the BreastScreen NSW Facebook page, the breast screening social media campaign is using factual, engaging ads to educate women about breast screening.
The campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of screening, encourage community support and engagement, and motivate women to book their next breast screen.
It aims to reach women aged 50–74 in NSW. There is a specific focus on Aboriginal audiences, as well as multicultural communities including Mandarin and Cantonese speakers.
Having a regular breast screen saves lives by finding breast cancers early, before they can be seen or felt.
The bowel cancer screening social media campaign encourage peoples to find out more about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and test kit.
Running for the next 12 months, it is using the Cancer Institute NSW’s Facebook page to reach people aged 50–74, who are eligible for the free screening program.
There is also a focus on supporting more Aboriginal people to do the test, as well as multicultural audiences including Arabic, Cantonese, and Mandarin speakers.
Bowel cancer screening can find bowel cancer early, even before any noticeable signs or symptoms. Early detection means bowel cancer can be successfully treated in more than 90 per cent of cases.
Source: Cancer Institute NSW
