The Rotary Clubs of the Illawarra launched their 15th annual Bowel Scan campaign at the Novotel Wollongong on March 8, with guest speaker Cancer Council of Australia chief executive Professor Ian Olver.

Since its inception, 24,000 Illawarra bowel scan kits have been distributed, with 414 positive results. A positive result does not necessarily mean bowel cancer, but requires a further test to look for polyps or cancerous cells.

The kits cost $10, are simple to use, require no dieting and are on sale at pharmacies between Helensburgh and Gerringong until April 12. They will be tested by Southern IML Pathology, with the test results going back to the person's GP.

Prof Olver said the federal government's national bowel cancer screening covered Australians aged 50, 55, 60 and 65, but by 2020 would include screening every two years until age 74.

"The Illawarra should be very grateful that Rotary has filled the gap and made a great impact on public education about bowel cancer," he said.

"They have raised awareness and people are more likely to take it [the scan] up and do the test."

Prof Olver said 16,000 new bowel cancer cases were diagnosed each year and 4000 people died each year.

"Survival does depend on early detection. The survival rate is 90 per cent for stage one, but less than 20 per cent for stage four," he said.

Illawarra Bowel Scan founder Alf Harley said only 40 per cent of kits were returned for testing and the aim was to get that up to 90 per cent.

Dr Boman Kalapesi was given a Rotary Paul Harris Sapphire badge for his 14 years as Bowel Scan medical co-ordinator, a role Dr Liz Magassy is taking on.