Cancer Council WA is calling on people in regional Western Australia who have been diagnosed with cancer to share their stories as part of the Find Cancer Early program.
Cancer Council WA Find Cancer Early Senior Coordinator, Hussam Al-Hakimi, said sharing personal experiences can have a powerful impact on encouraging others to take action.
“We know that early diagnosis saves lives, and real stories from people in regional WA who have been affected by cancer can make a huge difference in encouraging others to recognise symptoms and see their doctor,” Mr Al-Hakimi said.
“We’re looking for cancer patients or survivors who are over the age of 40, have been diagnosed with one of the following cancers: breast, prostate, bowel, lung, or skin, live in regional WA, and discovered their cancer after noticing symptoms and visiting their doctor or health professional.”
Mr Al-Hakimi said research shows that people living in regional areas are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at a later stage, which can impact their treatment options and overall prognosis.
“People living in regional Australia have lower rates of five year survival, for all cancers combined, when compared to people living in major cities,” he said.
“The Find Cancer Early program aims to improve cancer outcomes for regional West Australians by raising awareness of the early symptoms of the five most common cancers and encouraging people to seek medical advice sooner rather than later.
“This increases their chance of successful treatment and allows them to be around for longer, doing the things they enjoy with the people they love.
“If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, meet the criteria and are willing to share your story, we invite you to contact us at findcancerearly@cancerwa.asn.au or call 08 9382 9354.”
For more information on the Find Cancer Early program, visit www.findcancerearly.com.au.