Mid West cancer warriors Damien Healy and Cherie Slater share stories in Cancer Council WA’s new campaign

A new Statewide campaign urging people to listen to their bodies has been launched, featuring the stories of two Mid West locals who battled bowel cancer. Cancer Council WA’s new campaign titled Give Yourself the Best Chance, through its Find Cancer Early program, aims to encourage regional West Australians to go to the doctor if they notice changes in their body. Locals Damien Healy and Cherie Slater have shared their stories of being diagnosed with bowel cancer in the campaign. As the commander of Marine Rescue Geraldton, Mr Healy is used to rescuing others, but he found it difficult at first to save himself. At just 45, Mr Healy was diagnosed early after seeing previous Cancer Council ads and visiting his doctor when he had blood in his faeces and tummy pains. Fearing the worst, he was initially hesitant to get his symptoms checked, but doing so was a lifesaving move. He had polyps removed in 2021 and one was found to be cancerous. His surgeon said if he had not seen his doctor, Mr Healy wouldn’t have made it to 50. Mr Healy didn’t need to undergo radiotherapy or chemotherapy and is now cancer-free. “I’m stoked I found my cancer early so I can keep living the dream,” he said. Ms Slater, a 53-year-old Badimia Yamatji Whadjuk Noongar woman, ignored her symptoms for up to three years before going to the emergency department with unbearable stomach pain in January 2022. She was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer which had spread to other parts of her body and has been undergoing chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy since. “Please don’t be ashamed about telling your doctor what’s happening with your body, because these are the questions that could save your life. If you find cancer early, you can avoid being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer like me,” Ms Slater said. Cancer Council WA CEO Ashley Reid thanked Mr Healy and Ms Slater for sharing their stories with this campaign. He said research showed regional people had lower rates of five-year survival for all cancers combined, compared with people living in major cities. Often people in the country left it longer to go to their GP and were less aware of symptoms. “Give yourself the best chance of find cancer early by going to the doctor earlier if you have symptoms, so that treatment is easier, and you can be around longer for friends and family,” Mr Reid said. For more information visit findcancerearly.com.au.