When Suzy Thomson received her stool testing kit in the mail last November, she put it aside and then packed it in a box.
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Life was busy - she was moving house, a family member was ill and Christmas was approaching.
Three months later Suzy found the kit and decided she should take the five-minute test. It was the decision that saved her life.
The faecal occult blood test came back positive and Suzy was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February.
Despite playing golf, working and feeling very healthy, Suzy had developed an ulcerated bleeding tumour the size of a twenty cent coin in the two years since her previous test. She had a large section of her colon, appendix and lymph nodes removed.
The school teacher will be a special guest speaker at the Wellness Expo being held at Relay for Life at the Ulladulla Civic Centre on Saturday, November 23.
She will share her cancer story and encourage others to take the test when it arrives in the mail.
"I know so many people who never bother to take it," Suzy said.
"They put it in a drawer or throw it away.
"But this test saved my life - I feel very lucky to be alive"
Suzy has been encouraging all her friends to be vigilant and even stood up and spoke to her fellow Mollymook lady golfers about the importance of taking the bowel cancer test.
The support of her family and the caring staff at the Milton Community Cancer Centre made Suzy's cancer journey easier.
"It's so convenient being able to have treatment locally near family, and the staff at the Milton oncology unit were amazing. The service is tailor-made for each patient and the chemotherapy intake was adjusted to suit my body, making it a more positive experience for me."
Suzy praised the care and flexibility provided by cancer service nurse practitioner Bill Jansen who will also speak about local cancer services at the Wellness Expo.
Dr Jessie Hoang from Ulladulla Endoscopy and Medical Centre will introduce both speakers and talk about the importance of taking the faecal occult blood test and detecting bowel cancer early.
"If detected early, nine out of 10 bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated," she said.
"I can't stress enough how important it is for people to take the home test when it arrives in the mail - it saved Suzy's life and it can save many others."
Relay for Life will be held from 9am to 9pm. The expo will run from 9am to 5pm in bottom room at the Civic Centre.
