On the Coast – Over 55 Issue 30 I July/August 2019 | Page 6

The Scoop
on poop
BOWEL CANCER
AWARENESS
With Dr Mary Ling, Central Coast Breast and General Surgeon
W
yong 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 Colonoscopy
✔ ✔ FOBT is a screening test
to detect bowel cancer in
people who do not have any
symptoms. 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 persistent change in your
bowel habits, including diarrhoea
or constipation
✔ ✔ FOBT is recommended every
2 years from age 50.
✔ ✔ If you 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.
✔ ✔ 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.
& 02 4321 0302
6
www.drmaryling.com.au
ON TH E C OA S T – OVER 5 5
@drmaryling
*This advice is general only.
All surgical procedures have
risks. Speak to your doctor
about your symptoms