'Terrified me': 'Life-changing' diagnosis that forced Erin Molan to act
Erin Molan has sent a powerful message about bowel health after undergoing her first colonoscopy.
Taking to social media on Wednesday, the popular NRL presenter posted a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed, calling on Australians to see their GP if something "doesn't feel right".
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"Today I had a colonoscopy. My first one," she said.
"My sister was diagnosed with stage 3/4 bowel cancer at 27 - over a decade ago.
"I’ve had the genetic testing but not this. I’d honestly been scared. I kept coming up with excuses to put it off.
"My sister went in for this procedure and woke up to life changing news... I sat on the edge of her hospital bed as her doctor said the words that no person/family ever wants to hear - so the thought of something similar happening terrified me."
Molan opened up about her sister Sarah Sutton's bowel cancer diagnosis in 2019.
“She’d just had her second child,” Molan told 9Honey.
“She essentially was very young and there wasn’t really any awareness at that stage.
“She was incredibly lucky that my mum actually had a doctor’s appointment and told her to take it.
“Had it been another few weeks the doctors said we probably would have lost her.”
Daughter spurred Erin Molan into action
Molan is now an ambassador for Bowel Cancer Australia, hoping to raising more awareness about the disease.
“I am so proud of the work we and many others have done together over many years … yet I still PUT THIS OFF,” Molan wrote on Wednesday.
“Having my daughter changed everything. My health was no longer just my concern — but hers.
"No one will ever love and protect her like her father and I will — so she deserves parents who do everything in their power to stay healthy for as long as possible.
“Covid delayed this last year but finally it’s done I can’t stress enough how easy this was. The prep — a bit gross (but a great clean out!) — but seriously it’s 24 hours and that’s it. I didn’t feel a thing once I went under.
“I teared up a bit as the anaesthetic started to go in — I was a bit emotional — but my next memory was waking up without any soreness at all to the most wonderful doctor and nurses!
“If something doesn’t feel right talk to your GP. If you notice changes talk to your GP.
"Bowel Cancer is the second most common cancer in Australia but if you get it early enough 99 per cent of cases are treatable!
“We get told growing up to slip slop slap — skin cancer, don’t smoke — lung cancer, check your breasts — breast cancer.
"But it’s only fairly recently that @bowelcanceraustralia has started to enter mainstream media discussion — and about bloody time!
“Thanks to all who speak openly about something that isn’t particularly pretty or pleasant … but the lives of those we love may just depend on it!”
As well as her work with Channel Nine for the NRL, Molan is a presenter on 2DayFM’s Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed and Erin Molan.
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