Sam Birrell (Nicholls, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I was pleased to lodge the Parliamentary Friends of Bowel Cancer with my co-chair the member for Adelaide. Bowel Cancer Australia is in the parliament today, including 50 inspiring young people from across the country who represent the growing number of early-onset patients. Bowel cancer has affected my own family, and today I send a shoutout and my best wishes to Trent.

Tegan, from my electorate of Nicholls, is in the gallery and one of the most inspirational people I've met. Prior to her visit today, we shared a coffee in her hometown of Kilmore, and she told me her story of being diagnosed with bowel cancer at age 39. Tegan has endured chemotherapy and radiation, all while being a mum to three young kids. There are positive signs that Tegan is on track for a healthy outcome, and she is using her experience to raise awareness, because she doesn't want other people to go through this. She wants more people to be aware that bowel cancer happens to people under the age of 50. We need to encourage screening and develop clinical practice guidelines for people who are going through this at a younger age. We need to invest more into research about the cause of early-onset bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, but it still claims the lives of 101 Australians every week. Tegan has been through so much, but she maintains an incredibly positive attitude. We owe it to all of those brave ambassadors here today to help raise the level of awareness about early-onset bowel cancer and of how early diagnosis can save lives.