Forum to raise cancer awareness
They may not have the same profile as breast cancer in women or prostate cancer in men but collectively gastrointestinal cancers kill more than 10,000 Australians a year.
Affecting the digestive system - including the oesophagus, gall bladder, liver, pancreas, stomach and bowel - they are the most common form of cancer, diagnosed in more than 23,000 Australians a year.
Health experts say the average five-year survival from the cancers is only 54 per cent and as low as 5 per cent with pancreatic cancer and research in the area is underfunded.
The GI Cancer Institute is holding a public forum in Perth tomorrow to raise awareness about gaps in prevention and care and discuss the latest advances in treatment.
One of the speakers is survivor Jilli Blackler, 62, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at age 48, which led to secondary cancers of the lung and brain four years later.
She faced several operations, including craniotomies, as well as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The former Ansett flight attendant has been clear of cancer for about 10 years and says she owes her life to a team of doctors and her own positive attitude. Ms Blackler said there was still a lot of reluctance to talk about some cancers.
"People don't talk about these cancers nearly enough but we need to get it out there," she said.
"A lot of people believe it's a death sentence, but that's not necessarily so."
The forum will be held at Rydges Perth in Hay Street from 6.30pm. Call 1300 666 769 or visit gicancer.org.au
