Participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program has remained stagnant according to the latest report from the AIHW.

Of the 2.2 million people invited between January 2013 and December 2014, 37% participated in the program.

This figure was only slightly up ion the 36% participation rate seen in the previous two-year period.

Bowel Cancer Australia chief executive Mr Julien Wiggins said recent participation appears to be on a downward trajectory from a high of 43.5% in 2008-09, to 37.3% in 2013-14 even when based on newly applied participation indicators.

Figures from the report also showed that 17,520 people will be diagnosed with bowel cancer and 4,094 people will die from bowel cancer this year.

Since the program began in August 2006, 2.8 million Australians have participated in the NBCSP, with about 150,000 having a diagnostic assessment to follow up a positive screening result.

Of these 1 in 33 have been diagnosed with a confirmed or suspected cancer and 1 in 6 have had an adenoma detected.

To view the full report click here.