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Local healthcare focus: Your gut could be telling you something important! You may be aware of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and chances are you’ve received a free testing kit in the mail if you’re over 45. What you may not know is bowel cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers in Australia – and that rates of bowel cancer have increased 266% in young adults over the last 30 years. “What I find quite astounding is that only 50% of eligible people in Canberra actually do the test!” exclaims Dr Chris McCue from Canberra Colonoscopy at Ochre Medical Centre Bruce. “This is way too low considering 99% of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated if detected early – and many more can be prevented altogether.” “A positive screening test does not necessarily indicate the disease, but it will likely result in an endoscopy – a painless test that takes less than 30 minutes and is a small price to pay to reduce your cancer risk. The procedure gives us the opportunity to have a good look at the bowel and take out polyps or biopsies if needed. This way we can find any cancers early, get rid of them, or prevent them from developing.”
Following a move from New York where he was an ambulance officer, Dr McCue trained as a rural GP in Victoria, achieving his Rural Generalist Fellowship (FACRRM) in 2018. Circumstance and aptitude led him to allergy medicine and endoscopy – areas of substantial experience in which he is fully certified and now practises fulltime. Dr McCue heads up the Canberra Colonoscopy clinic, located within the Ochre Medical Centre in Bruce as well as in Deakin and Queanbeyan, and he is available to see patients for GI consultations on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays each week in Bruce. “We aim to diagnose and treat 97% of patients presenting with GI symptoms or returning a positive test on the screening program.” Having trained initially as a GP, Dr McCue also encourages patients to come in for a chat, which he explains will often result in relief and reassurance. He offers individualised care, and he stresses all are welcome, emphasising that the benefits of an early diagnosis outweigh any inconvenience. Dr McCue says symptoms for people to look out for include bleeding from the backside,
inconsistent bowel habits, pain, bloating, reflux, constant tiredness or unexpected weight loss. Risk is also determined by family history. His top lifestyle tips include reducing the consumption of smoked foods, talking to your doctor about alternatives to smoking, and minimising alcohol consumption. Diet should include daily fibre and there is also evidence that regular low doses of aspirin may reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer in some people.
Should urgent treatment be required, Dr McCue advises that wait times for procedures at the Queanbeyan Hospital are comparatively short when compared to others in the ACT. Dr Chris McCue is accepting patients for gastrointestinal consultations at Ochre Medical Centre Bruce, Building 28, Allawoona St &, Ginninderra Dr. Book online at ochrehealth.com. au or by calling the practice on 6180 8585.
Understanding weight management as a medical condition
Dr Randee Gunaratne is on a mission. As an experienced GP at Ochre Medical Centre Bruce, she is focusing on the importance of viewing and addressing weightrelated health issues as medical, rather than lifestyle, problems. She has launched a dedicated weight management clinic at Ochre which she runs every Tuesday. Dr Gunaratne explains: “Weight management is both misunderstood and fragmented in Australia. There is a growing obesity pandemic and, with my
Tuesday clinic, I am looking to close the gaps in understanding and treatment.” Dr Gunaratne says part of the problem is the stigma and shame around weight issues. These are not helped by sections of the medical community who reinforce the myth that they are all in the hands of the patient. “Often it is not a lack of motivation or willpower on the patient’s part – there may be various other factors involved, such as genetics, metabolism or underlying health issues,” says Dr Gunaratne when discussing weight as a contributing factor to medical conditions. In response to hearing many stories of patients being told to lose weight before being considered for treatment, or even refused treatment altogether, Dr Gunaratne is offering a safe space and multi-disciplinary approach to those who present with obesity and/or conditions that are affected by their weight.
She is also actively involved in the various related special interest groups across the country and has even taken on the responsibility of educating doctors in her role as a GP Supervisor. “I am communicating with weight management clinics around Australia, and I am looking at forming a network of doctors in the ACT who are interested in weight management.” When a patient visits Dr Gunaratne’s clinic, they will have an initial assessment and then a comprehensive management plan will be developed. This may include sessions with other experts such as physicians, dieticians, exercise physiologists and psychologists. Dr Gunaratne stresses the importance of a healthy lifestyle and creating good habits to manage weight. She explains that after the age of 40, your metabolism slows down and weight control becomes more challenging. “The research also
shows that childhood obesity can be linked to obesity in later life, so it’s really important to instil good habits from an early age.” “Ultimately, a person may be doing all the right things and still have issues. That is why it is so important to treat obesity as a medical condition. There are also very effective new medications available, and surgery may be an option.” Away from the clinic and her commitment to treating and educating those affected by weight-related ailments, Dr Gunaratne loves living in Canberra with her young family. Her passions include fashion design, yoga and skiing. Dr Randee Gunaratne is accepting patients for weight management consultations at Ochre Medical Centre Bruce, Building 28, Allawoona St &, Ginninderra Dr. Book online at ochrehealth.com.au or by calling the practice on 6180 8585.