Fight for your whakapapa

By Lorraine Staunton – Pou Haumanu / Service Delivery Manager

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and we hope these messages and information will resonate for months to come.

Our kaupapa is simple. We want to tautoko our whānau to recognise the signs (symptoms) of bowel cancer, have open kōreron and take action early. Because when we look after ourselves, we look after each other.

In Aotearoa, bowel cancer is the second most frequest cause of deaths from cancer. Each year more than 3,300 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer and around 1,200 lives are lost. But there is hope. Bowel cancer can be successfully treated – as many as nine out of 10 cases – if found at an early stage. That is why completing your screening on time, when you do not have any symptoms, is important.

It is also why we urge whānau to see a GP quickly about any bowel health symptoms and concerns.

A taonga in your letterbox

Free bowel screening is available for whānau aged 58–74. It comes in the form of a test kit sent to you in the mail every two years through the National Bowel Screening Programme.

The test is:

• quick and simple to use, clean and hygenic

• done privately in the comfort of your own home

• able to detect cancer signs, before you feel unwell

Screening on time means: more options, better outcomes, and stronger, healthier whānau. So when that kit arrives, do not ignore it. It is not junk mail. It is a small but important way to care for yourself.

Give it a go. Your future self and your whānau will thank you.

Returning the kit is easy:

• via NZ Post boxes using the prepaid envelope

• drop it off at an Awanui Labs location

Talking about bowel health can feel awkward, but the more we talk, the easier it becomes.

When we kōrero, we:

• recognise the signs sooner

• support each other to take action about concerns

• break down whakamā about the topic of bowels

Knowing your risk

Bowel cancer can affect people at any age. Understanding your risk helps you take control.

This might mean screening, making lifestyle changes or seeing a doctor early. Small everyday choices can make a big difference.

Looking after your bowel health can start with:

• eating well

• staying active

• limiting red and processed meats in your diet

• cutting back on salt, sugar and alcohol

• quitting smoking

Healthy choices grow healthier whānau.

Don’t wait if something doesn’t feel right

The bowel screening programme is for people without symptoms.

If you notice changes like blood in your poo/teko, or other changes in your bowel health or toilet habits, see your GP.

We are here for you

We are here to āwhina if you need support, have pātai or want help with your screening kit.

📞 Te Piki Oranga: 0800 672 642

📞 Kōrero with Tania Smith, kaimahi: 022 024 7942

Photos: In the centre, Lorraine Staunton.