The Bottom Line Podcast

Victoria has recently joined the Bowel Cancer Australia team as a Bowel Care Oncology Social Worker. Her compassion shines through as she chats to Stephanie about the importance of looking after your wellbeing and all the aspects that impact your life while navigating your bowel cancer journey. Offering practical tips from how to communicate with your family to financial and work-related questions...

Sally chats to Stephanie about the gaps in survivorship care and the launch of The Movement, Bowel Cancer Australia’s new online community created by patients for patients to help improve wellness beyond diagnosis. The Movement is a moderated, safe and supportive environment for bowel cancer patients, featuring monthly presentations by healthcare professionals from across the care continuum, acces...

Bowel cancer survivor, former member parliament and moderator of Bowel Cancer Australia's young-onset bowel cancer webinar series, Margaret Fitzherbert chats to Stephanie about the importance of politely challenging medical professionals and seeking a second opinion. Diagnosed in her early 40's, Margaret underwent treatment for stage 3 bowel cancer whilst serving in public office. "Having experien...

Chantel from Gogglebox Australia was just 14 when her mum was first diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer and 18 when she passed away. During her important teenage years, she was looking after her Mum, trying to get through school while her friends were off enjoying life.  Watching her mum slowly succumb to the disease had long term mental health ramifications for Chantel.  Chantel tells S...

Cal Wilson is one of Australia’s most popular comedians and a perennial favourite on television shows and discovered she was far more resilient than she thought when participating in the exotic challenges on  I’m a Celebrity Get Me out of Here! Chatting to Stephanie, Cal shares why she wanted to raise awareness for Bowel Cancer Australia as her nominated charity. “Both my Mum and my neighbour...

Nicole has sadly passed away since the time of this recording. It is an important part of Nicole's legacy that her lived-experience continues to be shared to raise much needed awareness and support to others. Bowel Cancer Australia thanks and acknowledges Nicole's contribution in creating a powerful voice for change, and our thoughts are with her loved ones. COVID-19 has impacted all Australians b...

Pain specialist, Dr Tim Hucker explains that cancer-related pain can occur at any time and isn’t always due to the cancer itself as a number of the treatments used in cancer care can cause pain - such as pain following surgery or peripheral nerve pain after chemotherapy.  Stephanie and Dr Hucker discuss the connection between pain, anxiety and depression, and recovery outcomes as well as how...

Experiencing ongoing vomiting and stomach pain, Gemma was diagnosed during the Covid-19 pandemic with stage IV bowel cancer at the age of 35. Stephanie and Gemma talk about the emotional toll of being isolated from her family and friends throughout treatment. Gemma discusses peritoneal metastases, including hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which involves filling the abdomina...

A/Prof Jeanne Tie is the lower gastrointestinal medical oncology and trials lead at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and senior research fellow in the Personalised Oncology Division at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Stephanie and A/Prof Tie discuss personalising treatment for bowel cancer patients using prognostic and predictive biomarkers, including circulating tumour D...

Five months pregnant and managing the emergency services response to the COVID -19 pandemic, Kate Fitzgerald was shocked when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2020. Kate discusses with Stephanie the difficult decisions she faced, not only for her health, but the health of her unborn baby, including possible termination and miscarriage as well as the five-hour surgery which involved her baby...

In Part 2 of this two part episode ( listen to Part 1 ), Michelle discusses grief with Stephanie following the loss of her husband, Sean, to young-onset bowel cancer, aged 36 in April 2021. Michelle talks openly and honestly about the impact of losing Sean, her anticipatory grief and how Sean gave her permission to be happy and continue living.  This episode sensitively confronts an often-dif...

Over the past 16 years, Stoma Nurse Amanda Richardson has helped thousands of patients with pre and post-operative stoma support and advice, stoma care and management, and stoma reversal. Honest and engaging, Amanda's warmth and care for her patients shine through in her chat with Stephanie on temporary/permanent ileostomy and colostomy, as well as in helping patients overcome a common fear of liv...

Donna Hope was juggling life as a State MP when she was diagnosed with stage III bowel cancer in 2013. On this episode she talks with Stephanie about how she navigated her cancer diagnosis in a busy high-profile position.  Now a passionate advocate for raising awareness of Australia’s second deadliest cancer she discusses the importance of knowing your symptoms and family history, speaki...

Stephanie chats with colorectal surgeon, Graham Newstead AM, about bowel surgery and what makes for an optimal surgical outcome. Dr Newstead discusses removal of the primary cancer and regional lymph nodes, the different types of surgical procedures - open, keyhole and robotic - as well as recovering from an operation. Give a $#*! About your bowel: June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Bowel Cance...

Stephanie chats with Chris about treatment options and the mental and physical impact of a metastatic bowel cancer diagnosis. Diagnosed with stage IV bowel cancer at the age of 41 Chris discusses his feelings of being diagnosed with the same disease his father passed away from, the importance of remaining positive, and how he navigated a bowel cancer diagnosis with lung metastases.  Passionat...

Gastroenterologist Dr Bernard Chin chats to Stephanie about what makes for a good bowel prep and quality colonoscopy. Dr Chin demystifies the procedure, shares tips to help patients prepare, and provides insights about what to expect before, during and after a colonoscopy. Based in Cairns, Bernard is passionate about providing patient-centric care, training future gastroenterologists, and ens...

In Part 1 of this two part episode, Sean and Michelle chat to Stephanie from a patient and carer perspective about navigating a metastatic bowel cancer diagnosis. Diagnosed at age 35, Sean talks about cancer being a team game and remaining in the 'now' while Michelle explains the sense of helplessness experienced as a carer. Sean and Michelle are passionate about raising awareness of Australia’s s...

Popular radio host and former golfer, Mark Allen was just 50 and feeling as fit as he had ever been when he was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in 2018. Mark had 70% of his rectum and 18% of his lungs removed, and extensive chemotherapy. But despite this, a couple of further bumps in the road, Mark’s optimism shines through and he considers himself incredibly lucky. Back on the golf cours...

A nurse and a mother of four, Camille from South Australia was just 38 when she first presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain, but was dismissed due to her age. After a total of three visits to the emergency department she finally insisted on further investigation and discovered she had bowel cancer. Camille wants to have a frank discussion about bowel cancer and make othe...

A new report,  Protecting nine million Australians: the case for screening from age 45  by social demographer Bernard Salt AM, Managing Director of The Demographics Group, and commissioned by Bowel Cancer Australia, examines the growing impact of bowel cancer in people under 50 and the benefits of lowering the screening age. The release of the report coincides with the draft re...

Bowel Cancer is Australia’s second deadliest cancer, with over 15,000 people diagnosed each year and over 5,000 dying from the disease. However, it is preventable and treatable. Colorectal surgeon,  Graham Newstead  talks about poo and what to look out for in the toilet bowl, as well as bowel cancer symptoms and the need for all Australians to be bowel cancer aware regardless of age.&nbs...

Meat Free Week challenges participants to try a plant-based menu for seven days and raise funds for Bowel Cancer Australia. Bowel Care Nutritionist  and bowel cancer survivor, Teresa Mitchell-Paterson, talks diet and the impact of meat to mark Meat Free Week as well as the importance of food for bowel cancer patients during treatment, recovery and beyond - sharing practical advice and valuabl...

A new Australian study has found the rates of bowel cancer in people under 50 continue to rise. Dannielle  was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 28. Over a period of a few years she sought medical help and knew something wasn't quite right, but bowel cancer was constantly dismissed because of her age. This delay resulted in her stage 4 diagnosis.