Almost 300 Australians a week are diagnosed with Bowel Cancer. Over 100 die each week from the devastating disease.
Bowel Cancer is the second deadliest cancer, only behind lung cancer, with an estimated 5,300 deaths yearly. If found early, 99% of cases can be treated successfully, however fewer than 50% of Australians are diagnosed in the early stages.
June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. For the month, advocacy, funding, awareness and calls for research are at the forefront to aid in the cure and care of Australians living with the disease.
Bowel Cancer Australia’s annual Red Apple Day, an initiative to raise funds for early onset bowel cancer research, falls on the 19th of June. Any donations made on the 19th of June will be matched by Bowel Cancer Australia’s matching partners, meaning any money raised is doubled.
Bowel Cancer touches many Australians and their families.
At the beginning of May, Member for Davidson Matt Cross bravely announced in a speech to the New South Wales Parliament his own recent diagnosis with bowel cancer. In his speech, Matt spoke of how his cancer was able to be caught early thanks to his regular blood donations, which caught irregularities.
‘Cancer affects everyone in our society, whether you are diagnosed or a colleague, friend, or loved one is diagnosed,’ says Matt Cross in his speech to Parliament on the 7th of May. ‘It does not discriminate.’
Matt Cross MP encourages others to consider becoming an Australian Red Cross Lifeblood donor, as each donation can help save three lives. ‘My recent visit will help save my life. My blood was given a voice & alerted me to danger,’ he writes in a post to Facebook.
World Blood Donor Day falls on the 14th of June. Lifeblood host a National Blood Donor Week to recognise and celebrate donors.
The Post wishes Member for Davidson Matt Cross a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with Matt and his family during this time.
For more information about Bowel Cancer Australia, visit www.bowelcanceraustralia.org
For more information about Lifeblood, visit www.lifeblood.com.au
