I didn’t realise how unbelievably easy, simple and clean the whole process was."
Turning 45 was an important milestone for Eleanor. After losing her father to bowel cancer, she explains why bowel cancer screening is an essential way to stay on top of your health.
Her father’s diagnosis
Four years after moving from England to Australia, Eleanor had built a new life in Darwin with her husband and was preparing to become a mum for the first time. Then, in 2010, everything changed.
Eleanor found out her father, David, who lived in England, had been diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer at age 60 and had been given 12 to 18 months to live.
Eleanor made the hard decision shortly after her father’s diagnosis to move back to the UK with her husband and her six-week-old child, to be by his side.
David hadn’t participated in bowel cancer screening prior to his diagnosis.
Why screening matters to Eleanor
Eleanor quickly adjusted to spending her days walking her newborn son through hospital hallways in a pushchair while her father underwent months of chemotherapy.
David’s cancer had unfortunately continued to progress, and he passed away from bowel cancer in 2013, two years after receiving his diagnosis. Losing her father to bowel cancer has reminded Eleanor how important it is to look after her health for herself and her family.
Over 90 per cent of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated if found early.
Turning 45 means taking control of your health
Eleanor now lives in Melbourne with her husband, son, and twin girls. Since her father’s passing, she always makes it a priority to stay on top of all her health checks. This includes taking advantage of the free at-home bowel cancer screening test every two years.
As soon as Eleanor and her husband turned 45, they ordered their free at-home bowel cancer screening test kits. Eleanor’s family (including her sisters back in the UK) are firm believers in the importance of bowel cancer screening so, of course, they completed their test and posted their samples back as soon as they could.
Currently only 42% of Australians do their bowel screening test. If we can increase and sustain participation at 60%, we could save 84,000 lives by 2040.
Doing the test for you and your family
Eleanor believes bowel screening is one of the most important things Australians can do to stay on top of their health. Doing the test every two years is not only an easy way to have peace of mind, but it's a way for Eleanor to do her best to be there for her kids.
Reflecting on how she felt when she completed her first bowel cancer screening test, Eleanor shared, “it was just a relief."
Making bowel screening a normal part of life
Eleanor wants her three young children to know that participating in bowel cancer screening is a normal part of life. She is also passionate about encouraging all eligible Australians aged 45 to 74 to do the test as soon as they get it in the mail.
Eleanor now knows that doing the free at-home bowel cancer screening test is “painless, clean and easy”.
It can stop any worry or possibly stop anything that could be occurring. Just do it."
If you have a family history of bowel cancer, it's important to seek advice from your doctor on the best approach to bowel screening.
Note: The Australian Government has lowered the eligible screening age for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program from 50 to 45. People aged 45 to 49 can request their first free screening kit by submitting a webform or calling 1800 627 701. People aged 50 to 74 will continue to automatically be sent a free home test kit every two years.