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“ People can be very honest and upfront about what ’ s actually happening to them .
Sharing her story
Clinician shares her bowel cancer survival story to help others .
By Elise Hartevelt
After surviving bowel cancer , Professor Teresa Mitchell-Paterson has dedicated her life to supporting people along the same trajectory by offering them guidance and advice .
As a clinical nutritionist for over 20 years , she ’ s also spreading awareness by lecturing at university and speaking about bowel cancer on TV and radio .
She received her own diagnosis back in 2009 and is now 12 years in remission .
“ There will always remain an amount of fear after you ’ ve had one type of cancer – you ’ re always on the lookout for what might come next ,” she says .
“ I was very fortunate in that mine was stage one .
“ But I ’ m very vigilant and ensure I ’ m in contact with my gastroenterologist to do the required follow-ups .”
Teresa is the leading spokesperson of Bowel Cancer Australia and helps people wanting to prevent colon cancer or those already living with it .
She says her medical background in nutrition has given her a major advantage in advising people who call the community-funded charity .
Since joining them 12 years ago , she estimates to have received over 10,000 calls .
“ I often speak with patients going down the cancer journey , who may be having chemotherapy or radiotherapy .
“ People can be very honest and upfront about what ’ s actually happening to them .”
Bowel cancer is the second most deadly cancer in Australia , affecting one in 15 people and claiming over 5,000 lives each year .
Early warning signs of the disease include unexplainable weight loss , extreme fatigue and lumps or swelling in the abdomen .
Interestingly , bowel cancer is not necessarily associated with pain ; as the disease progresses , patients might only feel dull aches or cramps .
In fact , colon cancer often goes undetected for years before people reach out , by which time they might already be at the metastasized stage .
Teresa says there are specific symptoms people may call in with that will immediately raise red flags for her .
“ Without a doubt , if anyone is experiencing any rapid changes in their bowel habits without explanation , they should seek help .” Particularly if there ’ s a familial history of bowel cancer , she says .
Teresa says newly-diagnosed patients can expect significant changes to their diet depending on their stage .
“ If we ’ re talking pre-surgery , then it ’ s simply a normal diet with a focus on a high fibre diet ,” she explains .
“ But post-surgery , the first four to six weeks , usually a low fibre diet is the best to follow , partly because the bowel doesn ’ t like to be poked around during surgery .
“ Then , we progress to a higher fibre intake as the bowel heals .”
However , she says the digestive tract will probably never work the same way again .
During Teresa ’ s cancer treatment , surgeons removed a percentage of her bowels , affecting how she tolerates specific types of food .
“ It changed my life in terms of what I can eat , so there are certain foods that I cannot have ,” she says .
“ You have to ensure you don ’ t accidentally eat those foods or otherwise at least know what you ’ re up for the next day .
Every six months , she visits her GP for blood tests to check up on the embryonic cancer antigens .
While she keeps up with her regular medical tests , she admits that emotions associated with surviving cancer never truly pass .
She finds strength in speaking with callers from Bowel Cancer Australia and often tells people of the damaging effect alcohol has on the digestive tract .
Research shows that medium to heavy alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of colon cancer than no alcohol consumption .
“ People should stay within the limits of alcohol consumption daily ,” she says .
She also recommends people include plenty of fibre in their diet , where whole grains , such as brown rice and oats , can help prevent colon cancer .
“ There ’ s a common misconception that vegetables and fruits have large amounts of fibre , whereas , in fact , they do not .
“ The majority of fibre comes from grains , nuts and seeds .”
Although Teresa ’ s life has changed substantially after her diagnosis , she enjoys working as a clinical nutritionist and gives regular lectures at Torrens University .
“ Nutrition is one of those sciences that ’ s constantly changing , so what might have been true five years ago may not be true today because you ’ ll find it ’ s a rapidly evolving science ,” she says . ■
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