Their mission is to empower all Australians to take active steps to prevent bowel cancer and live healthy lives through a number of national initiatives.
Role of pathology in bowel cancer
Bowel cancer screening via an at-home kit (faecal immunochemical test) is highly reliant on skilled pathology staff. Pathology professionals conduct blood and stool tests that guide diagnosis and review and interpret biopsy samples for treating doctors. Pathology testing is also used after diagnosis to help doctors determine the best course of treatment. For example, genetic tests can show mutations in particular genes which affect how a person’s body will respond to certain drugs.
Deb’s story
When Deb Weeks was diagnosed with bowel cancer, she had been feeling the best she’d felt in her whole life.
She’d turned 40 just months earlier and was in a “good place” with her health, fitness and family. So when she noticed a hint of dull, “dusty pink” blood on her toilet paper one day — with no other symptoms — she didn’t think to act on it. That’s why she’s now encouraging others to make sure they get tested as soon as possible.
