News

Joondalup Health Campus dietitian spreads bowel cancer message

Jun 06, 2018

Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) dietitian Catherine Cash knows all too well the importance of this month’s national Bowel Cancer Awareness campaign.

The Carramar mother is hoping to use her own story to raise the profile of Australia’s second deadliest cancer.

“In June 2017 I was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 41 with virtually no symptoms at all,” Catherine said.

“I only noticed a change in bowel habits and I was tired a lot but put that down to being a mother of a four-year-old.”

It was only after seeing her GP and pushing for further testing that Catherine found out she had bowel cancer which required immediate treatment.

Catherine underwent radiation treatment before having surgery in December 2017 at JHC and had chemotherapy for nearly 12 months.

While it was a rough road, she is grateful for the support from her treating team at JHC.

“My oncologist Dr Alex Powell, my surgeon Mr Paul Salama, the staff in the Oncology Unit, my dietetic team and everyone at the hospital have been wonderful,” she said.

Catherine’s latest results revealed that she is disease-free. She now hopes to use her story to spread the message about early detection and encourage people to know the symptoms.

“It is vitally important that people are aware of the early warning signs of bowel cancer and to see their GP if they think something is not right,” she said.

“It’s a common misconception that bowel cancer is an older person disease but my story shows that it can even affect younger people.

“Early symptoms of bowel cancer can often be missed or brushed off as something else so if you notice any changes at all in your bowel health, you need to speak to your doctor.”

Throughout June Catherine is raising money for Bowel Cancer Australia and is also selling bowel cancer awareness ribbons in the lead up to Red Apple Day on 20 June.

Bowel cancer claims the lives of over 80 Australians every week with more than 15,000 people diagnosed each year.

For more information on Bowel Cancer Awareness month and to learn about the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer visit to bowelcanceraustralia.org

Photo caption: JHC dietitian Catherine Cash with her son Will.