By Tanya Faulkner
A local resident is helping to encourage elderly locals to pay more attention to their health and wellbeing.
Rowville resident Mick Sharry has joined Cancer Council and the Australian Government’s National Bowel Screening Programme (NBCSP) awareness campaign to encourage locals aged 50-74 to Get2it and take an at-home bowel cancer screening test.
Mr Sharry – an IT desk service manager and a lover of his family – initially dismissed the NBCSP, but completed it after some reminders and encouragement from a friend.
He said because of his lifestyle, he didn’t think he would be susceptible to this disease.
“Outside of my full-time job as an IT service desk manager, I enjoyed an active lifestyle – filling in my spare time by doing karate, going camping, and walking the dog.
“I’ve always thought that my active lifestyle would prevent me from catching serious diseases so when I first received the bowel cancer screening test in the mail at the age of 50, I initially dismissed it.
“However, a friend’s encouragement and a reminder letter from the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) motivated me to do the test,” he said.
Mr Sharry received a positive test which revealed stage 3 Bowel Cancer.
Since his diagnosis, Mr Sharry has been focusing on enjoying life to the fullest.
“The test detected bowel cancer but after catching it early and a successful treatment, I’ve now been in remission for 5 years.
“Post-recovery, I’ve been able to enjoy many milestone moments in my life by seeing my children grow up and achieve their goals.
“We’ve been able to enjoy family trips and continue to live our lives with peace of mind,” he said.
Mr Sharry said it was from this earlier diagnosis that he has been able to continue enjoying what he loves, and being with his family.
“I feel lucky that the test detected my cancer sooner rather than later and am forever indebted to the NBCSP.
“I encourage everyone to “Get2it” and do the life-saving test every time it arrives in the mail,” he said.
Mr Sharry is one of many who are stepping up to help increase the awareness of NBCSP and encourage locals to get checked.
Iconic actor Lynne McGranger and AFL legend Leigh Matthews are urging Australians over 50 to Get2it and take a free screening test for bowel cancer.
The pair, who have recently completed their bowel screening tests, added their voices to the campaign by the Australian Government and Cancer Council Australia encouraging eligible people to test themselves for early signs of bowel cancer.
Ms McGranger said she realised the importance of good health when she turned 50.
“Like many others, I delayed taking the national bowel cancer screening test.
“I took it for the first time last year, and it was such a weight off my shoulders to know I’d done something so easy to contribute positively to my health.
My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.
There are still so many milestones I want to enjoy – taking the test is one way to make sure I don’t miss any of them, like my daughter’s wedding this week,” she said.
The Australian Government offers free screening kits to more than 6 million Australians each year through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
However, only four in 10 of these complete the test.
Despite this low participation rate, in a recent survey conducted for the Australian Government and Cancer Council, nine out of 10 people, aged 50 years or older in the survey said they took their health seriously, and four out of five knew that bowel cancer is one of the top three cancers leading to death in Australia.
Almost one quarter of the survey respondents (23 per cent) said they were much more likely to prioritise their health leading up to a milestone in their lives.
The National Bowel Screening Program test is quick and hygienic and can be completed at home and returned in the post. More information is available at www.cancer.org.au/bowelscreening
