By Xavier Smerdon
WYNDHAM residents are being encouraged to put their misconceptions aside and take a potentially life saving step this month.
The Rotary clubs of Wyndham, Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and Laverton have united to offer the revolutionary Bowelscan Program to the community.
For just $6 people can visit their nearest pharmacy and get Bowelscan kit to test themselves for one of the deadliest diseases in Australia.
Bowel cancer kills around 5000 people every year in Australia, which is more than the road toll and breast cancer combined.
To make matters worse, it can go largely undetected without a regular checkup with a doctor.
Eddie Szatkowski from the Wyndham Rotary said he was inspired to help spread the program after his father-in-law died from bowel cancer.
“I know the grief that bowel cancer can cause,” Mr Szatkowski said.
“I have an association with it through my wife;s father and unfortunately I know that most me don’t like being checked for anything.”
With the Bowelscan kit residents can check themselves for bowel cancer, return the test to their pharmacy, and receive a result from a professional with a week.
Mr Szatkowski said it was important for people to be proactive about their health.
“With bowel cancer you don’t get any symptoms so you have got to get it checked,” he said.
“A lot of people are walking around with a time bomb inside of them and they don’t find out they’ve got it until it’s too late.”
The last day for for residents to participate in the program is 31 May.
Visit your local pharmacy for more information.
