Digestive and Gastrointestinal Conditions (opens new window)

COLORECTAL CONDITIONS

Living with Colorectal Cancer

A diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer affects each person differently. You may find it helpful to talk to others and ask questions about your options. To help you along your journey, we have resources to help you increase your knowledge about living with Colorectal Cancer and maintaining your colon health.

Get screened. Be sure.

Early screening can help to prevent Colorectal Cancer. However, the absence of symptoms doesn’t mean the absence of the disease or precancerous growths that could eventually lead to cancer. That’s why staying proactive and getting screened early is important.²

If you're 45 or older, get this test. Because if you have a polyp, and they remove the polyp, you’re not going to get the cancer from that polyp. It’s not debatable.”

– Helen, colon cancer survivor

This testimonial relates a genuine account of an individual’s response to the treatment, and does not provide any indication, guide, warranty or guarantee as to the response other persons may have to the treatment. Responses to the treatment may vary. Always consult your healthcare professional for a full list of benefits, indications, precautions, clinical results, and other important medical information that pertains to the therapy or products discussed.

Follow these steps to start your journey to treatment

STEP 01

Take the symptom quiz

Answer some simple questions about your experience living with Colorectal Cancer.

STEP 02

Discuss with your GP

Take these results to your next appointment and discuss your treatment options.

STEP 03

Find a specialist

If your GP recommends further treatment, find a suitable specialist near you.

References

1. Australian Government, Cancer Australia. Bowel Cancer Symptoms. Available at: https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/bowel-cancer/symptoms-and-diagnosis

Discuss with your GP

Learning to talk about your condition can help combat stigma and educate your friends and family about how you manage your illness while still living your best life.

Discussion Guide (opens new window)

Living with Colorectal Cancer

Get screened. Be sure.

If you're 45 or older, get this test. Because if you have a polyp, and they remove the polyp, you’re not going to get the cancer from that polyp. It’s not debatable.”

Follow these steps to start your journey to treatment

STEP 01

Take the symptom quiz

STEP 02

Discuss with your GP

STEP 03

Find a specialist

Take the Symptom Quiz

Start the conversation by taking the interactive Colorectal Cancer symptom quiz. You be able to download your results to help start your journey.

Colorectal Cancer symptom questionnaire

Your questionnaire results

Do you frequently see red blood (from the rectum) or dark brown/black blood in your stool (from elsewhere in the digestive tract) in the toilet or after wiping?

Have you recently experienced a reduced appetite or unexplained weight loss?

Have you been experiencing a change in bowel habits? This can include either diarrhoea or constipation or a mix of both.

Do you experience the need to empty your bowels very suddenly or waking up in the night to empty your bowels?

Do you often have a feeling that you need to have a bowel movement even after you have had one?

Do you frequently suffer from abdominal pain or cramping?

Are you constantly feeling tired or experiencing unexplained fatigue?

Have you recently experienced flares of unexplained vomiting?

Discuss with your GP

What is Colorectal Cancer

Diagnostic options

FAQ's