If you notice something isn’t right, get it checked out. You’re not bulletproof.
Before Terry, from Toodyay, was diagnosed with lung cancer, he was a pensioner and loving every minute of it.
He was about to set off on his next adventure and had the caravan packed, fueled and ready to go when he dropped by his local GP to get his regular scripts filled.
He’d been experiencing chest pain for a while and when his GP asked about it, Terry was prescribed heart burn tablets to ease the pain.
When the pain didn’t subside, Terry’s GP sent him for a CAT scan in Northam in June 2018. Cancer was found in a couple of lymph glands and a lump was found in his left lung.
Terry then travelled 90km to Perth for six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, staying at Cancer Council WA’s Milroy Lodge. He credits the hospital and lodge staff for getting him through this journey.
Following his experience, Terry is urging others to see their doctor if something isn’t right.
“If you think there might be something wrong, get it checked out because you have to live in your body.”
These days Terry is very conscious of environmental carcinogens. If he goes out in the afternoon sun, he needs to have a ‘bloody good reason’ to.
Through our Find Cancer Early campaign, we are urging Western Australians, especially those in regional areas, to learn the 10 most common early symptoms of cancer and to make sure they go and see their local health worker or doctor if they notice any of these symptoms.
Visit the Find Cancer Early website for more information.
Our 10 symptoms checklist
Check out our checklist below and ask yourself – have you, or anyone you love, had any of these? If you have and especially if you’re over 40, tell your doctor, clinic nurse or Aboriginal health worker straight away.
