The bowel cancer screening kit saved my life
Lucy Shipp, 65, shares her bowel cancer journey to encourage everyone to take the bowel cancer screening kit.
Three years ago when I was 62 years of age, the company I work for, Caterpillar of Australia, sponsored a bowel screening program (led by Nick Lee, of the Jodi Lee Foundation). We listened to a presentation and were provided with bowel cancer screening kits.
I was shocked to find that my test came back positive. Within one week I was having a colonoscopy. Two large tumors where found and a number of polyps; the polyps were removed immediately during the initial colonoscopy.
Tests on the two large tumors showed that I had early stage bowel cancer.
The first tumor was successfully removed via a colonoscopy; unfortunately, the other one had to be surgically removed along with a 15 inch section of large colon. I was very fortunate not to lose a much longer section of colon because one tumor was on my left and the other on my right side. From the first diagnosis in August, these procedures were completed by October.
I had taken the government supplied bowel cancer screening test when I was 50 and again at 55 years of age, neither resulted positive. There was no history of bowel cancer in my family, no one I knew had ever had it, and I never had any symptoms whatsoever, so had never given bowel cancer a second thought.
My colorectal surgeon could not stress enough, that if I had waited for my next government supplied screening test at age 65, it would have been too late for me.
Please get tested. It’s important and it’s easy to take the test. Taking the test could be the difference between life and death. I want you to know that even when you’re diagnosed with bowel cancer, so much can be done, with great success. I have succeeded in convincing friends and family, just how easy it is to take the test (read the pamphlet in the screening kit, fill in your details, and then leave the kit in the bathroom until you are ready). They have all since done the screening test and some have had to have the colonoscopy – all have had very good results.
It’s been three years since I was diagnosed with bowel cancer. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to my family, friends, Caterpillar and the Jodi Lee Foundation who have been a truly wonderful support. I cannot give enough praise to the doctors and staff at the Austin and Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre for the excellent treatment I received during this whole affair.
I look at my children and grandchildren and am constantly reminded of how very lucky I am, because without the initial bowel cancer screening test, I would not have suspected anything was wrong.
For more information about bowel cancer, please visit the Jodi Lee Foundation website here.
Related links:
What I did after my wife passed away from bowel cancer
The 4 pillars of happy and healthy ageing
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