Bowel cancer is Australia’s biggest cancer killer, with more than 4000 sufferers dying each year across the country.

Last year, it was predicted more than 17,000 people would be diagnosed.

And despite surgery, more than a quarter of patients will see their cancer return within three years.

Erin Molan, whose sister was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 27-years-old, says it was a “nerve-wracking” five years after her sister’s surgery, waiting in anticipation to see if the cancer would return.

But a South Australian university has created a blood test which could help.

Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer’s Doctor Erin Symonds tells Natalie Peters and Erin Molan the test is able to determine who is at risk of their cancer returning.

“We’re interested in working out how good the surgery has been in the patient and how we can use this blood test to work out who’s at greatest risk of the cancer coming back.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview