“Poking your poo” isn’t exactly a topic that comes up around the workbench every day. But according to gastroenterologist Dr Oliver Cronin, it might be one of the most important conversations Australian men can have.
When Dr Cronin joined AMSA’s Stuart Torrance on The Shed Wireless podcast, he didn’t waste time dressing it up.
The bowel screening test is simple. It arrives in the mail. It can be completed at home. And yes, it involves taking a small sample from your stool.
For many blokes, that’s enough reason to put it in the “I’ll get around to it later” pile.
The problem is that bowel cancer often develops without obvious symptoms, and by the time warning signs appear, treatment can be far more difficult.
“The whole point of screening is to find things before they become a problem,” Dr Cronin explained.
Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world, but it also has one of the most effective screening programs. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program sends free home test kits to eligible Australians aged 45 to 74, helping detect early signs of cancer before symptoms develop.
For Dr Cronin, the message is simple: don’t wait until something feels wrong.
Many people feel perfectly healthy when they complete the test, and that’s exactly the point.
The earlier bowel cancer is detected, the better the chances of successful treatment.
A conversation worth having
Men’s Sheds have always been about more than projects and practical skills. They’re places where conversations happen.
Sometimes it’s about football, fishing or fixing things. Sometimes it’s about health.
Dr Cronin believes those conversations can make a real difference, particularly when it comes to encouraging mates to complete their screening test.
A quick reminder from a friend or a chat around the shed table might be all it takes for someone to finally open the envelope that’s been sitting on the kitchen bench for months.
It might not be the most glamorous topic. But it could be one of the most important.
Listen to the full conversation
Dr Oliver Cronin’s interview is available now on The Shed Wireless podcast. Or simply click play below (15 mins)!
Visit www.mensshed.org/the-shed-wireless