Testimonials

Detecting bowel cancer early is vital to survival.  Whilst 5500 Australians die from bowel cancer each year in Australia, Rotary Bowelscan has enabled many people to survive this disease.

The following are five different people who are willing to share their experience of battling bowel cancer as they tell their tale of how testing themselves with a kit really did save their life.

Max Bissett, Redland Bay

“I took my first BowelScan test when the program first began back in 1982 and tested myself every single year after. I have always been a healthy active person and never dreamed I had any health problems. I only missed two years and that’s all it took for me to be in serious trouble. It was such a shock to hear that the test came back with three positives and that I would need to live with a colostomy bag for the rest of my years. I learnt the lesson the hard way – you just can’t afford to skip a year. ”

Roy McQueen, Victoria Point

"I would certainly endorse BowelScan and would urge everyone to take the test each year in the hope of detecting bowel cancer at the earliest possible stage, where treatment is much more effective.  Though lucky to survive at all, had I been aware of the risks and tested myself earlier, I may not have ended up living with a permanent colostomy bag.”

Robert Muller, Capalaba

"It was a real shock to hear the doctor tell me that the polyp detected would have taken only three to six months to go through the bowel wall and spread through the rest of my body. They took out my large bowel but luckily I still had enough left to not have to wear a bag. I can do anything now, and life's back to normal. I was so lucky that the test caught the cancer when it did. It scares me to think had I left it any longer I might not be here to watch my grand children grow up. People should not mess about and take the test straight away so they too can be there for life with their loved ones."

Dawn Radley, Cleveland 

Dawn and her husband were planning an around-the-world trip at the time she ws first diagnosed with bowel cancer, making for a challenging time for them.  Dawn was quickly hospitalised for tests, surgery, and further treatment.  Dawn's case required the surgical removal of prt of her large bowel, which then required tests every three months for two years, followed by another colonoscopy.

"In the oncology ward, I saw all sorts of people and unfortunately some hadn't been picked up early.  I was lucky. It's very important to be tested before getting to that stage of having a tumour.  There is so much that can be done now and, as far as I'm concerned, it's curable."

Dawn is now living a full life pursuing her volunteering activities and hobbies again, and recommends everyone be tested to detect symptoms early to prevent them having to endure the surgery that she had to endure.

Ken Quinton, Cleveland

In early 2007 I listened to a presentation by a member of the Cleveland Rotary Club at a U3A meeting in the Redlands, in relation to the benefits of taking advantage of the offer of using a Test Kit supplied by them and then dropped off at the local Pharmacy for testing for any indication of BOWEL CANCER.

Due to the fact of having a busy year, I put off using the kit.  Then on New Year’s Eve 2007 when we were holidaying down the Gold Coast, I suddenly haemorrhaged when we were packing to come home.  As a result of this, we immediately drove to Greenslopes Hospital where I haemorrhaged again.

The following day, my Specialist Surgeon, Dr Stephen Alison, carried out a colonoscopy and removed two Cancerous Polyps.  Since then I have had a colonoscopy every six months and there has been no further indication of cancer to date.

In summary, in my opinion, if I had used the Test Kit in the early part of 2007, the Bowel Cancer in my case would not have been as serious.

I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS PROCEDURE.

Thornlands Resident (Wishes to remain anonymous)

Another testimonial from a Thornlands resident who wishes to remain anonymous, received in February 2009, supports the Rotary intent to have every adult tested every year.

"In 2004 I was troubled by piles, and in the fulness of time had them surgically repaired.

After the operation, the doctor informed me that he had removed a polyp, and recommended that I see a specialist for a colonoscopy as there may have been more.  He explained that polyps were a primary sign of bowel cancer, and that if not attended to, could become quite nasty.

Well, this is going to be fun, I thought, and so it came to pass that I also had this procedure.  Afterwards, the doctor gaily informed me that he had removed half a dozen small growths (polyps) and had sent them off for pathology.  Prior to this I had felt as fit as a mallee bull, never dreaming that my innards were hosting unwanted guests.

A couple of weeks later his secretary phoned and advised me that the tests had come back as benign, ie there was nothing to worry about, and that I should have another check up in three years.

In the meantime, a member of another club that I was in had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.  He had to have a large section of his innards removed and had chemotherapy.  In the following two years, we watched him fade away....

Three years later I had another colonoscopy, and a couple of small growths were removed; once again they were benign.  I am very thankful that I was fortunate to have early detection of what could have become a terminal condition.

I can recommend Rotary BowelScan as a simple method of early detection of what could become a very unpleasant complaint, with the associated discomfort of surgical procedures if not detected EARLY!

The combined Rotary Clubs in the Redlands endorse these Testimonials, an encourage every adult over 40 to take a bowel cancer check every year.