Too many dodging bowel cancer test: study

Too many Australians with a history of bowel cancer in their family are avoiding a screening test which could save their lives, a study has found.

Only four per cent of people regarded as high-risk for developing bowel cancer are having the recommended colonoscopy every two to five years, according to the University of Melbourne and CSIRO research.

The study found 71 per cent of people in high risk families were not having any screening for bowel cancer, with 24 per cent having some form of screening but not frequently enough.

Lead researcher Driss Ait Ouakrim said early detection was the best defence against the deadly disease.

"(Screening) detects pre-cancerous polyps before they develop into cancer," Mr Ait Ouakrim said.

"It also reduces the risk of dying from bowel cancer by finding cancers at an earlier stage when they are more treatable."

The research was collected from more than 1500 people regarded as high risk because of instances of bowel cancer in their family.

Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world and around three per cent of the population have a family history serious enough to require regular colonoscopies.