Perth HR’s Biggest Morning Tea

Bringing awareness to Bowel Cancer - Jason's story

Today I’m writing to bring awareness to an insidious disease, that is far too abundant amongst us with 1 in 2 of us affected by Cancer.

In my instance it was bowel cancer that turned our world upside down. It brought shock, uncertainty, stress, sadness, but it was the unknown and lessons learned that I want to shed light on.

Prior to diagnosis I was ignorant to the cancer world, and so are many for some part, even those in the health and medical industry.

Mid September 2022 looking to enter a preliminary final at the MCG, I had pain in my abdomen region nearing 10/10. A trip to emergency, had my obs tested, bloods, urine and ultrasound. 2am I was told we found nothing, and more than likely it’s diverticulitis, but we have nothing for you.

Back in Perth 2 weeks later, I passed clots of blood (apologies for details). With another emergency hospital visit, same tests, I was shown the door with the same verdict. GP a day later, saw the same tests, plus a request for a stool sample. A week and a half later, all results provided me with a dose of antibiotics for Diverticulitis, and an order to book in a colonoscopy (within 30 days).

10 days later and the antibiotics hadn’t improved my health. Alarm bells ringing! Well I better get that not so important colonoscopy then. 10 or so days later, complete.

This process from first symptom and hospital visit on the 16th of September to the 28th of October, where I was diagnosed with a sigmoid tumour, being bowel cancer, was a 6.5 week process.

A few weeks later I was told that bowel cancer is no longer a 50+ disease and with the current pandemic, 28+ was more accurate. Along with that, being the more mind blowing information, only half of the medical world are adhering to these findings. I guess only being 41 at the time, who would have even thought, that bowel cancer could be my healths demise.

The GP nine months earlier when I asked him about potential internal haemorrhoids didn’t believe so. That was clear, when he flicked me off with a tube of bum cream.  “NEXT!”

I had an operation to remove a tumour that was putting a number on my head. With very little warning signs that I was to become a stage 4 cancer patient. That made it even harder to believe it was me.

Surgery was a success, however the spread meant I required a heavy treatment cycle, and still require a treatment maintenance program to this day. I’m loving that I’m still upright and breathing, but the toll on the body has been a heavy one.

I feel I I have been lucky in a very unfortunate circumstance. So to be able to  write my story/experience, is one way, I can look to help others and give back. The main reason for sharing, is to let it be known, that you need to take care of number one. Health is our number one wealth, and paramount to a long and happy life.

I took the GP’s bum cream and ran with it as an easy out. Listen to your body and if you believe there is something, don’t be fearful of an examination, blood test, cat scan, MRI Scan, PET scan, Ultrasound, Colonoscopy etc. If you get fobbed off, don’t settle for that, find another GP or specialist and go again, until your satisfied and content with the process, and have prioritised your health.

Sometimes we might feel awkward, embarrassed or nervous. If I could put those options on the table, against what the last couple of years has been, as an alternative, I would take that road, and address them in a heartbeat. Do you, and fight for what’s best for you! Your family needs YOU! If you need some motivation to be brave, think about your kids, or your folks and how much they put in, to get you to this point.

The majority in the medical and health world are exceptional in what they do, and do hold your best health, as a priority. I’ve been lucky enough to have met some of them, and they have saved my life. Though, like all industries there are the ones, who may have a bad day, or be distracted by personal issues, be inferior to the next, don’t adhere to new facts/instruction or just don’t g.a.f. In this industry that is inexcusable and needs to be called out.

Once knowing my life was at stake, I had no inhibitions to do that, (lesson learned) and that’s how you need and must be, from the get go.

Without identifying I had the wrong mechanic (oncologist) for the type of car (my health crisis), who knows where that could have led. You would think one type fits all, but trust me, it doesn’t.

In these instances, the first thing you require is HOPE! Its the most important seed to sow BELIEF, to overcome the fight at hand. To be served very little or none of that at the start, it was a tough and bitter pill to swallow. Luckily it awoke us, to find the best in the business.

Second is exactly that, the belief you have the right team in the cockpit,or driving your health bus to a better you. You must shop around and you lead the search. You must feel in control and comfortable, as to who you let on that bus.

Whether that’s your family, best mates or the community for support, picking you up when you’re struggling, sometimes feeling  the cards are stacked against you. Them taking you to treatment and feeling like you’re not alone. Keeping you upbeat and having a laugh. Meal drop offs, cooking dinners at home, going for drives, messages of support, videos from your fav sports stars, signed apparel from stars, getting your son a start at an AFL curtain raiser, flying in to visit and go climb mountains together, financial support, phone calls, working b’s around the home, cleaning or even just a shoulder to cry on. (Please get around someone you know in a crisis, it makes the world of difference, no matter how little or big the action or message) THANK YOU!!!!!

It could be who your oncologist is. The most pivotal decision in increasing your odds for better health. When it comes to this part of the cancer fight, you are the passenger, and they are the ones who have the best weaponry to your cause. You are in trusting them with your life, and that’s why a referral, does not always mean they are right for your team. If the first second don’t connect go with the third. No stone unturned!

So for anyone that faces what seems like a tough road or be dealt a bad hand, feel all the emotions. Go into it with your heart open, allow yourself to grieve, be sad, be vulnerable to the current, express and show what you are enduring. Firstly it cleanses and frees us from the fear, uncertainty or the unknown of what might be.

When you have allowed this natural process, secondly it gives you the best foundation to untangle our thoughts, find a calm mind, lock in the power of positive thoughts, surround yourself with people that work for you and go to work together on fighting for your life.

Stay stubborn and determined with the vision that there is no other outcome than survival. Yes we need luck on our side, but with hope, belief, and humanity on board, your more than half way there, and you’ll make your own luck.

You’ve got this 💪🏻 and if you ever need me on your bus 🚌 give me a call or message.

Jason

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