AFL legend Gavin Wanganeen is encouraging people to take action to kick bowel cancer in the butt early.

Bowel cancer prevention charity Jodi Lee Foundation recently brought the former Essendon and Port Adelaide footballer to the region for the ‘Behinds Matter’ campaign.

The foundation partnered with RAA, Wellbeing SA, Star Pharmacy, Nangwarry Football Club and Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation to host several events with Mr Wanganeen and engage with the community.

Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Australia and is the leading cancer killer in people aged 25 to 34.

If detected in Stage 1, up to 99% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated or even prevented, however if diagnosed in Stage 4 there is a 14% five-year survival rate.

From the age of 50 to 74, Australians are mailed a free at-home bowel cancer screening test every two years.

“Sadly only 48% of Australians return that, so less than half, and in Indigenous Australians it is only 23%, so it is even worse again,” Mr Wanganeen said.

“It is such an important cause, so it is great that we were able to come here to spread the good word about encouraging people to do the bowel screening test when they get it in the mail.”

Jodi Lee Foundation general manager Rachel McKay said in regional and remote areas the take up of the bowel screening test was less than metropolitan areas.

“We are really keen to get to regional centres and to be able to spread the message about the bowel screening kit to raise more awareness and to get more people to undertake those tests,” she said.

“It is a really significant disease in Australia, and we really want to get that early detection message and prevention message out.”

Mr Wanganeen hoped testing rates would increase and, at the very least, get over the halfway mark.

“People think ‘I do not want to do the test just in case it comes back positive,’ but if it comes back positive that is a positive, because you have got it early, and you are going to be absolutely fine,” he said.

“It is the early detection, and if you are sending the test back every two years, then you potentially could be saving your own life.

“It is hard because it is a bit of a taboo thing as well, so getting people comfortable around it, it is a must-thing to do and it is actually not that bad, it is actually really quick and really easy.”

Mr Wanganeen also believed the ‘I do not need to do that; she’ll be right mate’ mentality needed to change.

“I think it is important we change that mentality because if a family loses their father, look at the hardships and the struggles there are going to be for the wife, the kids, and so on,” he said.

“It is about spreading the message, and even for younger people to encourage their father or auntie or grandmother, ‘hey Nan or hey Pop, have you done your bowel cancer screening test yet?’

“I think we are all in this together, and the more educated we are, the better the outcomes.”

Mr Wanganeen said the visit to Nangwarry Football Club was well-received and prompted conversations.

“It was predominantly a male audience, it was good to have a chat and talk about some of the statistics and facts as a starting point and let them know actually how serious it is,” he said.

“Then we softened it up with a few laughs around the embarrassment of actually doing the poop test and all that to say hey, it’s not that bad, and lighten up the mood a bit.

“There were a few little giggles here and there, but there were questions coming back around the test and so on, which was really important to get the engagement.

“It really felt like they were taking it seriously and at least considering taking it seriously and doing the test.”

Ms McKay said a reason they chose to visit the football club was because they wanted to speak to men.

“Men are generally less likely to return a bowel screening kit, so we wanted to go to a place where men are,” she said.

“We wanted to bring Gavin because he is fantastic to talk to, he is really passionate about getting the message out, the men at the football club loved to listen to him.

“There were some fantastic questions asked by the people in the audience, some really thoughtful questions and great conversation.”

Visit jodileefoundation.org.au for further information on the foundation and bowel cancer.