How the bowel cancer screening kit saved my life
When Joan Fitches retired at 65, she was on top of the world. She was feeling better than she had in years, and was busier than ever enjoying the new phase in her life. So when she received a bowel cancer test kit in the post, she didn’t think to take it immediately and popped it in her bathroom cupboard.
“I don’t drink, don’t smoke and I have no family history,” she says, continuing, “I remember reading the leaflet that came with the letter, listing all the symptoms for bowel cancer, and thinking nope – I don’t have any of those!”
But then Joan thought better of it.
“I remember thinking, ‘I’m good with my mammograms, so I should really do this too’,” she says.
Joan completed the test at home and sent it back without much thought or worry. So when the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program sent her a letter two weeks later with a “positive” result, Joan was shocked.
“It so happened that I received a letter for funeral plan insurance the same day and thought they were trying to tell me something!” she recalls with a laugh.
“But I read it properly and it made it clear that a positive reading doesn’t mean cancer and I should make an appointment to see my doctor. I must admit I was a bit anxious at getting the positive result from my screening test though.”
Despite the diagnosis of bowel cancer, after speaking to her GP and family Joan realised it wasn’t the “death sentence” she was afraid of. Since it was caught early, treatment was minimal.
“My GP was very clear in explaining to my husband and me that I had two polyps and I should go for a biopsy. They said that even though the polyps may not be cancerous, I should make sure. They eased my worries and I felt I was going to be alright,” she says.
Joan had the surgery before Christmas, and weeks later she was in the clear.
“It was a very simple surgery – so quick and I didn’t feel an ounce of pain,” she says, adding, “I remember being woken up by elves as it was Christmas Eve. I was home by Christmas day and front and centre at the Boxing Day sales!”
It’s been eighteen months since Joan’s surgery and she’s feeling great – better than great in fact, she’s feeling extremely well, fit and confident, particularly buoyed by the knowledge she’ll be around to see her little granddaughters grow up.
Having battled bowel cancer, Joan is keen to share her personal story to spread awareness about this little-known disease.
“There is such a lot of emphasis put on breast and prostate cancer awareness that people have not been made aware of the seriousness and magnitude of bowel cancer,” she observes.
Bowel cancer is the second largest cause of deaths in Australia with 80 people dying every week from the disease. However, it is also one of the most treatable cancers if it is diagnosed early enough – a fact that Joan is all too aware about.
“I had no symptoms. Nothing that would have prompted me to see the doctor. But [because of the test kit] the cancer was caught early, and I can get on with my life,” she says adamantly.
With recent research showing that the majority of people still throw away their free test kits, Joan particularly wants to dispel the stigma that surrounds bowel cancer.
“Bowel cancer is not something that people are so eager to discuss. I think people put off getting tested or even talking about it to their GP is that it's ‘not very nice’ and people are embarrassed to talk about bodily functions. The idea of having to mess about with poo is too awful to contemplate, when in fact it's a very simple test to carry out in the privacy of your own home and only takes a few seconds to do,” she says.
In adding her voice to the growing chorus of people raising awareness, Joan hopes that people will stop throwing away or putting off completing their screening kits.
“Just do it, it’s so important. It’s not hard – it’s not messy, it doesn’t cost you a dime, but if you don’t it may cost you your life,” she advises, “I tell all my friends who worry its messy – it’s not half as bad as changing your grandchild’s nappy and you’re happy to do that.”
Joan’s message is clear.
“As we get older the risk of being diagnosed with some form of cancer increases so it's more important than ever to do whatever you can to minimise your chances of dying prematurely,” she says matter-of-factly.
“It's time people realised it's not something to be ashamed or embarrassed about. A very simple test could save your life. It saved mine.”
What are the current bowel cancer statistics?
- Bowel cancer is the second-deadliest cancer in Australia
- Around 10 Australians die of bowel cancer every day, yet 90 per cent of cases can be cured if detected early
- The lifetime risk of developing bowel cancer before the age of 75 is around one in 19 for men and one in 28 for women, which is one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world
- More than 75 per cent of people who develop bowel cancer do not have a family history of bowel cancer
- Bowel cancer screening is one of the most effective, life-saving public health measures available.
What is the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program?
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program currently provides free bowel cancer screening kits for people aged 50, 55, 60 and 65. The program has expanded this year, and by 2020 all Australians aged 50-74 will receive a free screening kit every two years.
The expansion will be implemented in phases over a five year period between 2015 and 2020:
- 70 and 74 year olds have already commenced screening
- 72 and 64 year olds added in 2016-17
- 68, 58 and 54 year olds added in 2017-18
- 66 and 62 year olds added in 2018-19
- 56 and 52 year olds added in 2019-20
To see when you will received your free kit, visit the website here.
Since the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program was introduced in 2006, the detection of early stage cancer has improved, and consequently the survival rates have increased over five years, from 48 per cent to 66 per cent.
The Cancer Council supports the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and urge all Australians who receive free bowel cancer screening kit to complete the test and send it off for analysis. The test is simple to use, free and can be done in the privacy of your own home.
For more information visit the Australian Government website on Bowel Cancer here.