Bowel Cancer Awareness The scoop on poop

With Dr Mary Ling, Central Coast Breast and General Surgeon

Wyong has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in Australia – in fact it is now 44 per cent above the state average.

What’s even more alarming is that 40% of Australians are abandoning the Faecal Occult Blood Test, a free, three-minute test – that Australians automatically receive in the mail when they turn 50 and are then sent every two years until age 74.

Bowel cancer can grow on the inside of the bowel for several years before causing any symptoms.

Often small amounts of blood (invisible to the naked eye) leak from these growths and pass into bowel movements and FOBT can detect these small amounts of blood.

It’s a simple test that can save your life, and to increase this compliance we need to stop being afraid to talk about bowel cancer.

After all, if we can pooper scoop our dog’s droppings, surely we can poke a stick in our own and send it off for testing?

The good news is that if bowel cancer is detected early, more than 90 per cent can be successfully treated. And dying of embarrassment on the Central Coast is still a lot better than dying of bowel cancer.

FOBT vs Colonoscopy – which do I need?

FOBT

✔ FOBT is a screening test to detect bowel cancer in people who do not have any symptoms.

✔ FOBT is recommended every 2 years from age 50.

✔ If y ou have one relative diagnosed with bowel cancer at age 55 years or older, screening should be considered from age 45.

✔ A positive test result should be followed up with a colonoscopy within 30 days.

Colonoscopy

If you have any of the symptoms for more than 2 weeks, ask your GP to be referred for further investigations (which may include a colonoscopy). ✔ A p ersistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhoea or constipation

✔ Blood in your stool

✔ Persistent abdominal or rectal discomfort

✔ A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely

✔ Unexplained weight loss

✔ Unexplained iron deficiency or anaemia which can cause weakness & fatigue

Dr Mary Ling is a Breast and General Surgeon who consults at Gosford, Woy Woy and Kanwal.

*This advice is general only. All surgical procedures have risks. Speak to your doctor about your symptoms

Rapid Access Endoscopy

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Visit www.rapidaccessscopes.com.au or call 4321 0302 ALL SURGICAL PROCEDURES HAVE RISKS. SPEAK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR SYMPTOMS.

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