Anton Enus urges medical checks after revealing bowel cancer battle

 

SBS World News presenter Anton Enus has revealed a battle with bowel cancer, but is grateful to have detected it early as he nears the conclusion of radiation and chemotherapy.

Enus, 55, who is a Bowel Cancer Australia ambassador, says the discovery was made in December.

Here are some select excerpts from a piece has has written for Fairfax Media and his reaction to the diagnosis:

 

“Me? The one who’d given up eating meat more than three decades before, who’d never been a smoker and no more than a glass-with-dinner kind of drinker. The one who ran marathons and whose greatest joy was chasing a ball around a tennis court for hours, who did yoga and had no family history of bowel cancer. And yet, there it was, plain to see. Luck of the draw.

“Despite that, I’m one of the lucky ones. They discovered it early. And I have private health insurance to smooth the way. Others have no option but to be patient. The recommended maximum waiting period for a colonoscopy is thirty days. For some members of the public that has blown out to 120 days.

“On average, 41 Australians are diagnosed with bowel cancer every day. That’s a staggering number. Almost 10 per cent are younger than fifty. That ought to get your attention.

“About two-thirds of eligible people choose not to complete the sample test in the bowel cancer screening program. Two out of three! It’s hard to believe people could be so cavalier about something so fundamental.

“Just do it. It could save your life. I reckon it saved mine.”

You can read more here.

Bowel Cancer Australia