A Brisbane man is extremely grateful for the Discount Drug Stores’ bowel health awareness clinic after a screening test found early evidence of potential bowel cancer. As a result it has now been successfully treated and is fortunately no longer a potential threat to his life.
David George, aged 51, had no symptoms of the disease, but was directed by a Discount Drug Stores pharmacist to be pro-active about his health and try the at-home bowel cancer testing kit. Mr George says the test potentially saved his life.
“I hate to think what my future would look like if I hadn’t caught this disease early,” Mr George says. “There aren’t any warning signs for bowel cancer until it is well-advanced, so I have been spared potentially an early death, and certainly a lot of pain and expense.”
The first pharmacy brand in Australia to implement a specific health awareness clinic targeting bowel health & bowel cancer, Discount Drug Stores launched the national awareness clinic in June in over 100 of its stores in an effort to reduce the high number of Australians who are losing their lives to bowel cancer every year.
Discount Drug Stores Professional Services Manager, Casey Clark, said statistics such as 77 bowel cancer deaths per week in Australia prompted the brand to do even more to identify those most at risk early, and last year helped to diagnose 63 Australians with bowel cancer or key risk factors of the disease such as polyps.
“Bowel cancer kills more Australians than breast or prostate cancer but it also has a 90% survival rate if caught early,” she said. “The results from the year round testing service showed that we can make a difference and encouraged us to launch this clinic to help and hopefully save the lives of hundreds more Australians.”
Mr George, from Slacks Creek, said he was initially reluctant to take the test, as he had been told by his doctor that conventional tests were unpleasant and involved much handling and storing of faeces, however he was glad to learn the test recommended by his Discount Drug Stores pharmacist was simple, easy to use and cheap.
“The screening test can be done quickly and easily in the privacy of your own home, so there is nothing stopping anyone over 50 from being screened. It’s the only way the cancer will be caught in time to be treated,” says Mr George.
Ms Clark agrees, saying bowel cancer is one of the most deadly cancers but also one of the least spoken about so it is vital that awareness is raised, and says making simple tests available will encourage more people to screen for the disease.
“The Bowelscreen test is an easy, effective way to detect the disease early, and is completed in the comfort of the home and then sent to pathology for results, so there is no need to bring the Bowelscreen test back to the pharmacy for processing, unlike some other screening programs, which is helping to make bowel cancer testing less embarrassing,” Ms Clark says.
Bowel Cancer Australia’s Bowelscreen kits are the most effective at home bowel cancer testing kits available on the market, detecting nine out of 10 cancers. Australians experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain, anaemia and changes in bowel habit or who find blood in the toilet after use, are advised to visit their local GP.
Discount Drug Stores’ bowel health awareness clinics will run in the majority of the brands stores across Australia. Bookings are recommended in order to secure an appointment. Bowelscreen Australia® test kits are also available for purchase in Discount Drug Stores pharmacies throughout the year. For more information please visit www.discountdrugstores.com.au.
Media Enquiries: Suzanne Ross at Graymedia on 07 3250 9406 or 0488 441 589 or email s.ross@graymedia.com.au
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