The Bottom Line Podcast Bowel Cancer Australia

For Anthony Ellison, exercise and a healthy lifestyle were front and centre in his life, so when he was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, three days shy of his 40th birthday, he was knocked for a six. Three years later, Anthony’s positive outlook and drive to challenge the norm, sees him tackling the cancer head on.
Anthony and Stephanie discuss the impact of exercise, both physically and mentally, and how early on he decided to find what was within his control and not just control it, but dominate it - 'Exercise is my happy place!'
Anthony also chats about the importance of having an allied health team and how sessions with his psychologist allow him to walk lighter and to provide him with direction without burdening his loved ones.

AFL great and mental health advocate, Wayne Schwass, is passionate about good physical and emotional health and urges Australians to tackle the difficult conversations. 
After years of struggling with depression silently, Wayne confronted the condition head-on and has gone on to launch PukaUp. 
In 2019, after a routine screening test, Wayne was diagnosed with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), a bowel disease that usually affects younger Australians. 
Wayne and Stephanie talk about the need to normalise bowel health, the importance of open dialogue and good communication with your medical team and how the bowel screening test potentially saved him from bowel cancer.

Gastroenterologist John Ding specialises in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Both conditions can cause inflammation of the colon and rectum, and it left untreated can be a pre-cursor to bowel cancer.
Stephanie and John discuss diagnosing both conditions via colonoscopy and gastropathy, as well as non-invasive procedures such as an intestinal ultrasound and faecal investigations including the breakthrough test, faecal calprotectin.
Dr Ding further explains the importance of a good to excellent bowel prep to ensure the bowel lining is clean, so it is visible by a gastroenterologist during colonoscopy. This decreases the risk of complications, such as bleeding and perforation, and increases detection of pre-cancerous polyps and cancer.

Jessica was juggling life as a new Mum and a promotion at work when she was diagnosed with stage 2 bowel cancer aged just 33. 
Now a passionate advocate for raising young-onset bowel cancer awareness, Jessica discusses with Stephanie the importance of prioritising yourself and being a champion for your own health.
Jessica explains how her diagnosis hit her for a six, despite knowing that the daily presence of blood in her stool was just not normal and the implications of surgery and fertility.

Victoria has recently joined the Bowel Cancer Australia team as a Bowel Care Oncology Social Worker.
Her compassion shines through as she chats to Stephanie about the importance of looking after your wellbeing and all the aspects that impact your life while navigating your bowel cancer journey.
Offering practical tips from how to communicate with your family to financial and work-related questions, Victoria explains how access to a social worker can provide a scaffold, to support you through your diagnosis, treatment and beyond.

Sally cats to Stephanie about the gaps in survivorship care and the launch of The Movement, Bowel Cancer Australia’s new online community created by patients for patients to help improve wellness beyond diagnosis.
The Movement is a moderated, safe and supportive environment for bowel cancer patients, featuring monthly presentations by healthcare professionals from across the care continuum, access to a resource library, as well as monthly 'coffee chats' for members to connect with one another.
"Whether you are newly diagnosed, in active treatment, undergoing surveillance following treatment or for genetic syndrome prevention, or in remission, you will find helpful resources and a very supportive community," Sally explains.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/the.movement.wellness.beyond.diagnosis