Embrace your health and do the poo test

Penny Egan has a personal reason for wanting everyone to be cancer-smart

WINTER isn’t coming anymore, it’s here. And while we don’t have to fear the White Walker of famed series Game of Thrones, it’s certainly not a time to hibernate.

Cancer Council evidence shows that up to one hour of moderate activity or 30 minutes of vigorous activity is recommended daily to cut your cancer risk.

Remember Norm, the Life Be in It star of the 1970s? I can. Don’t be a Norm. Be active, proactive and get moving. Don’t let the cold keep you inside. Physical activity helps you maintain a healthy body weight and can improve energy levels and feeling of wellbeing.

How invigorated do you feel when you come back from having had a walk outside in the winter?

You may have gone out rugged up in your puffer jacket and beanie, but when you get back and throw them off, you feel great.

Get to see daily exercise as an opportunity rather than an inconvenience.

You can take a brisk walk in your lunch break or take the stairs and not the lift. Even getting off the bus a few stops early and walking home contributes. At work, how easy is it to get up and speak with your colleague rather than exercising your fingers on the keyboard.

Seriously, you can lower your cancer risk by being physically active.

Physical activity regulates the hormones — such as insulin-like growth factors — and affects the speed that food passes through the bowel.

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. In Australia more than 15,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. In Tasmania it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. Mortality rates indicate bowel cancer in Tasmania is five times the number of road accident fatalities. Please don’t wait for the crash.

In 2006 the Australian Government introduced the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. By 2017-18, all Australians 50-74 will be eligible for screening tests every two years.

When you receive that extra special birthday present in the mail, please don’t ignore it, embrace it. Bowel cancer screening saves lives. It is the best way of detecting bowel cancer early, because the disease often develops without symptoms. Early diagnosis improves treatment options and chances of survival with over 90 per cent of cases successfully treated. If you wait until you have symptoms you may be at stage 3 or 4, where your chances of survival significantly decrease.

My dad died of bowel cancer 34 years ago.

At that time not many people spoke about cancer and a bowel cancer screening program was not in existence.

But I know that if my father had at least checked up on his health and been diagnosed earlier, we would definitely have had more time together.

The latest statistics show that Tasmania’s participation in the screening program is still at 46 per cent.

This is the second highest of the states and territories and above the Australian average of 41 per cent, but it’s still disappointing when we realise 54 per cent of us aren’t taking the test. It’s not difficult. I know, because I have had the “pleasure” of participating on several occasions. The concept of the new ad “Poo Poke Post” is simple — so is the test.

I encourage everyone to take responsibility for your health. Embrace a cancer-smart lifestyle, participate in all national screening programs if you are eligible and speak with your doctor when you notice any unusual changes in your body. Take the initiative — early diagnosis can save your life.

Every day at Cancer Council we meet inspiring and courageous people.

For some people cancer has impacted their life for no reason, others have taken responsibility for their health, and some wished they had.