Cancer Council statistics show Mid West bowel cancer figures are high and regional Australians avoid diagnosis

Listen to your body and don’t ignore what it’s telling you — that’s the advice of a local man who has suffered from bowel cancer. Geraldton man John McLellan has battled bowel cancer and knows all too well how important it is to react quickly to unusual body changes. He recommended regional men and women listen to their bodies. “If you think you’re not well, don’t ignore it and seek advice,” he said. The Cancer Council is urging adults in the Mid West to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of bowel cancer, and to visit a doctor if they begin experiencing symptoms. “In the Mid West region in 2019, 50 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer and 17 people died from it,” Cancer Council Mid West regional educational officer Aiden McDowell said. Cancer Council WA’s recent data shows 25 people a week are diagnosed with bowel cancer in WA alone, with regional Australians less likely to be alive five years after diagnosis compared with Australians living in metropolitan areas. Mr McDowell said in 2019, bowel cancer — or colorectal cancer — was the third most common cancer in men and women in WA. He said people from regional WA were more likely to delay seeking medical advice when they were experiencing symptoms, with many thinking they were something else. “If you’re unsure about a possible symptom you should make an appointment to discuss the change with your doctor, clinic nurse or Aboriginal health worker as soon as possible,” he said. Common symptoms of bowel cancer include blood in faeces, a new pain, lump or swelling in the stomach, fatigue, paleness, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite and unusual bowel movements. It’s recommended people aged from 50 to 74 take part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, which sends testing kits to eligible Australians every two years, as bowel cancer can occur without symptoms.