Treatable and beatable bowel cancer: Pacific Radiology
New Zealand has an internationally high rate of bowel cancer death – needlessly.
Pacific Radiology and the New Zealand Gut Foundation are working together to reduce New Zealand’s mortality rate from bowel cancer. Research conducted collectively with the Department of Population Health University of Otago last year, identified the need to remove barriers people have against monitoring their own gut-health and seeking help.
The organisations’ innovative responses to the findings offer ways for Kiwis to tackle this topic head-on. A key line of defence is timely diagnosis. Pacific Radiology, New Zealand’s largest private radiology provider, offers CT Colonography (CTC).
This minimally intrusive scanning method, usually available within a week of referral, can give peace of mind quickly or identify if you need to get treatment started immediately.
Cancer survivor Jenny Cameron has nothing but praise for the CTC method.
“CTC is a quick and gentle method, which is important when you’re already unwell. I was able to keep my focus and energy where it needed to be. Crucially it detected bowel cancer involving the lymph nodes while I still had time to act – it gave me my second chance.”
Not only does CT Colonography help save lives, it takes pressure off our struggling hospital system. Importantly, it also shows beyond the bowel into all other organs in the abdomen, which a colonoscopy cannot do.
“Gaining access to a timely diagnosis can be lifesaving. If we as a radiology community can help our surgical and gastroenterology colleagues by taking some of the pressure off colonoscopy waitlists, then let’s do it,” says Dr Adrian Balasingam, the Chief Medical Officer of Pacific Radiology, who has 20 years of experience in this area.
The other key line of defence against bowel cancer is yourself. So, the Gut Foundation’s colourful artwork hits the road again in December – the Travelling Port-A-Loo. Staff are on hand to share the message ‘know your normal’, with practical resources to help you monitor and ‘review your poo’.
These two organisations are united in their determination to remove barriers to lifesaving healthcare. It’s time to step outside our comfort zones and tackle this beatable disease.
