The Bottom Line Podcas‪t‬ Bowel Cancer Australia

Gastroenterologist Dr Bernard Chin chats to Stephanie about what makes for a good bowel prep and quality colonoscopy.
Dr Chin demystifies the procedure, shares tips to help patients prepare, and provides insights about what to expect before, during and after a colonoscopy.
Based in Cairns, Bernard is passionate about providing patient centric care, training future gastroenterologists, and ensuring those living in regional Australia have access to timely quality health care.
+ + +
If you are aged 18-and-over and have had a colonoscopy, we invite you to provide feedback about your experience.
My Colonoscopy Experience is a simple online questionnaire that can be completed anonymously, which allows you to report what the colonoscopy experience was like for you, as a patient.
It only takes a small amount of time to complete, but it can have a big impact.
Help us ensure the patient voice is heard, so that future colonoscopy care reflects what patients want and need.
Click the link to share your experience: https://bit.ly/3sMxAeL (https://bit.ly/3sMxAeL)

In Part 1 of this two part episode, Sean and Michelle chat to Stephanie from a patient and carer perspective about navigating a metastatic bowel cancer diagnosis.
Diagnosed at age 35, Sean talks about cancer being a team game and remaining in the 'now' while Michelle explains the sense of helplessness experienced as a carer.
Sean and Michelle are passionate about raising awareness of Australia’s second deadliest cancer and talk about the importance of understanding symptoms, being an advocate for your own health and talking and to your GP if you have any concerns.

Popular radio host and former golfer, Mark Allen was just 50 and feeling as fit as he had ever been when he was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in 2018.
Mark had 70% of his rectum removed, 18% of his lungs and extensive chemotherapy, but despite this, a couple of further bumps in the road Mark’s optimism shines through and he considers himself incredibly lucky. Back on the golf course, he was given all clear in May 2020.
Mark chats about the importance of remaining positive and encourages Australians not to be complacent and to DO the screening test and not leave it in your top draw.

Mother of 4, and nurse, Camille from South Australia was just 38 when she first presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain, but was dismissed due to her age.
After a total of three visits to the emergency department she finally insisted on further investigation and discovered she had bowel cancer.
Camille wants to have a frank discussion about bowel cancer and make other’s aware of the importance of trusting your instincts and insisting on further investigation. Camille talks to Stephanie Bansemer-Brown on The Bottom Line Podcast about her experience, the importance of connection and Bowel Cancer Australia’s https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/buddy (Peer-to-Peer Support Network).

A new report, https://shop.bowelcanceraustralia.org/collections/reports/products/the-case-for-screening-from-age-45-download-only (Protecting nine million Australians: the case for screening from age 45) by social demographer Bernard Salt AM, Managing Director of The Demographics Group, and commissioned by Bowel Cancer Australia, examines the growing impact of bowel cancer in people under 50 and the benefits of lowering the screening age.
The release of the report coincides with the draft recommendation from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for screening to start at age 45, which matches that of the American Cancer Society (ACS), which in May 2018 issued the same recommendation.

Bowel Cancer is Australia’s second deadliest cancer, with over 15,000 people diagnosed each year and over 5,000 dying from the disease, however it is preventable, treatable and beatable.
Colorectal surgeon, https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/graham-newstead (Graham Newstead) talks about poo and what to look out for in the toilet bowl, as well as bowel cancer symptoms and the need for all Australians to be bowel cancer aware regardless of age.