The good news is that bowel cancer can be successfully treated if diagnosed early. Unfortunately, though, only 40% of cases of bowel cancer are detected early. The reason for this is that bowel cancer can develop without warning symptoms.
For this reason, pre-emptive testing for bowel cancer is essential to ensure you can pick it up in its early stages; before its too late.
In Australia – people between the age of 50 and 74 receive a free bowel cancer screening kit for the early detection of bowel cancer. This test should be completed every 2 years. Often symptoms are not experienced by an individual until it is too late. The test looks for signs of blood in your faecal matter – which could be a sign of pre-cancerous or cancer growth. This simple test is completed in the convenience of your home; with the faecal specimen simply mailed back to the laboratory.
As Exercise Physiologists we are passionate about preventative health. Whilst we use exercise as a modality for maximizing the survivorship of cancer: and as a strategy for minimizing the negative side effects of cancer treatment – fundamentally we believe in prevention first.
As such we urge you to undertake this bowel cancer screening test to pick up on and early signs of cancer.