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Find out moreMedia release
19 September 2019
Australia’s silent cancer on the rise, North Shore expert talks about the 30 min test which could save your life
Bowel cancer cases are increasing but with 98 percent of bowel cancers successfully treated when detected early, there’s never been a better incentive to take a bowel cancer screening test, reports Dr Doug Samuel, Gastroenterologist at North Shore Specialist Day Hospital, during Blue September - a month dedicated to raising awareness of the risks that cancers pose to men.
“Put simply, bowel screening can save your life, but unfortunately there isn’t enough awareness about bowel cancer, a condition which effects 1 in 13 Australians, most likely because it’s not a popular conversation topic and people are embarrassed to talk about it,” said Dr Samuel.
“To add to the problem, most people with early bowel cancers don’t experience any symptoms which is why this disease is known as the silent cancer. 70 percent of people diagnosed with bowel cancer have no family members with the disease.
“My goal is to get people talking about lifesaving bowel screening tests, even with people under 50 not included in the free 50-74 years National Bowel Cancer Screening program.
“Bowel cancer mostly affects those over 50; but it is on the rise among younger Australians. People in their thirties are around three times more likely to be diagnosed with bowel cancer than their parent’s generation was in their thirties.
“Screening is so valuable. By doing a simple bowel cancer screening kit, it will detect if there is microscopic amounts of blood in the faecal sample, leaked from cancerous growths which are passed into bowel movements.
"A positive test result from a screening kit doesn’t mean you have bowel cancer it just means blood has been detected and further investigation is required.
“Your Doctor will then probably refer you to have a colonoscopy to further investigate, a procedure which takes around 30 minutes. During a colonoscopy, a tiny camera in a thin, flexible tube is carefully fed through the large intestine to look for and potentially treat any abnormalities such as polyps or bowel cancer,” said Dr Samuel.
Dr Samuel performs procedures at the North Shore Specialist Day Hospital, a leading hospital which has first-rate equipment. This small and friendly hospital has a personal feel that bigger hospitals can lose.
Dr Samuel said if you notice blood in your stool or rectal bleeding, prolonged changes in bowel habits, unexplained anaemia and weight loss, abdominal pain or swelling, these symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have bowel cancer, but they should be investigated.
“Everyone should do the bowel cancer screening test because detecting bowel cancer early could save your life,” said Dr Samuel.
If you would like to know more about bowel cancer screening, speak with your doctor.
Need help? Get in touch we are here to help.
(02) 9425 1678What to expect on the day of your procedure.
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