The Bottom Line Podcast

Fundraising in honour of loved ones is hugely rewarding but event planning can also be incredibly time consuming. 

In this episode Stephanie chats with childhood friends Sara and Amy, co-founders of Time is Precious, about the impact of losing a loved one to bowel cancer and how they have leant into their youth and desire to give back.

“We are definitely trying to find ways to create a point of difference and because we are you...

Melbourne University’s Professor Mark Jenkins discusses his team’s latest research which highlights excess deaths due to the rise in early-onset bowel cancer between 1990 and 2020, as well as the disparity of bowel cancer research funding in Australia.

Mark also discusses the burden early-onset bowel cancer on those who are in the rush-hour of their lives – building careers, developing relationships and raising families.

“The increas...

It's Dry July and Stephanie chats with two passionate fundraisers Justin and Conor who are raising funds for Bowel Cancer Australia in memory of their Dad and Mum, respectively.

Funds raised through Dry July help support the Charity's specialist in-person Bowel Care Nurse Program, which aims to improve equity of access to personalised care and tailored support, allowing more people to access coordinated care closer to home.

“My Dad p...

Walkley Award-winning author, investigative journalist and author, Lucie Morris-Marr chats to Stephanie about her lived experience.

From her initial stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis to undergoing a groundbreaking liver transplant, Lucie discusses her roller coaster ride.

“I am lucky to be here. I’m very grateful for that and I want to give back, because people have really given generously to me.”

A strong believer in advocating for...

Danae shares her “good news” cancer story, highlighting her proactive GP who ultimately saved her life.

“I became the good luck story of 2022. Instead of dismissing my symptoms due to perimenopause my GP wanted to be thorough and sent me for a CT scan that ultimately revealed stage 2 bowel cancer.”

Danae discusses the importance of a positive outlook and how finding her “tribe” and the bowel cancer community helped her through her di...

Flamboyant and infectiously positive, Sooz has always tried to find a “glimmer” in every day since she was a little girl.  Not even a stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis has extinguished her bubbly personality. That doesn’t mean there are not moments that are hard, but as she explains, she chooses to view everything with a positive filter.

Sooz talks about how (despite being health literate) she was shocked by her diagnosis. 'I jus...

We know bowel cancer is the deadliest cancer for people 25-44 and Australia has the highest rates of early-onset bowel cancer in the world, but we don’t know why.

On this episode Associate Professor Daniel Buchanan discusses the importance of funding bowel cancer research, his Angel Study and why he is excited about bowel cancer research.

“In my lifetime we can do something to prevent it. . . Cancer is a complex disease and ther...

On this episode, celebrity chef and author Justine Schofield opens up about the death of her best friend Beth to bowel cancer aged just 38.

Justine talks about the joy of female friendship, her shared love of food with Beth and how the loss of her lifelong friend at such a young age has impacted her and their close-knit group.

“There is something so very special and effortless about a female friendship and I hit the jackpot with Beth...

A long-time bowel cancer advocate, Jodie’s delayed diagnosis was 'explained away' as female related issues, pregnancy and being a young Mum. 

It wasn’t until she advocated for herself that she finally got the answer to her ongoing symptoms – Stage 3 bowel cancer.

'Self-advocacy is my big message - if something doesn’t feel right, look right and you’re not happy with the responses you're receiving, you need to find another optio...

Diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer and HER2 gene mutation at 35, Pei, (a GP registrar) chats with Stephanie regarding the importance of GP’s treating the patient in front of them without age bias. 

Pei talks about her realistic and pragmatic approach to living her life with a terminal illness and how her love of the outdoors keeps her focused on the 'now'.

'I live my life in 9-week cycles – scan to scan – but I am always tryin...

TV writer and director, Darren Ashton, discusses with Stephanie how his stage 3 bowel cancer diagnosis informed the tone of the hit ABC show, 'Austin'.

'When you're knocking on deaths door, you think about the important things. I wanted to put something joyous into the world and this is why “Austin” became a positive show.'

In this frank chat Darren talks about the importance of a good support network and the benefit of shared experi...

Palliative Care doctor and author of, 'With the End in Mind', Kathryn Mannix demystifies the often uncomfortable topic of death and dying.

Chatting with Stephanie, Kathryn reminds us that we often fear death because of the unknown; that death is not what is portrayed in Hollywood movies and that we have forgotten about the process of 'ordinary dying'.

Drawing on her decades of experience, Kathryn provides practical tips as well as so...

On this episode, Dr Sarah Chu and early-onset bowel cancer survivor Vanessa Mendico discuss the importance of age not being a barrier to a bowel cancer diagnosis.

To address perceived age bias as outlined in recent research, Bowel Cancer Australia has launched a new resource, the Never2Young CPD series.

Featuring virtual clinics, these educational modules are aimed at helping GP’s identify bowel cancer red flag signs and symptoms in ...

Stephanie chats with Ogilvy Group Creative Director, Nina East, Director, Eddy Bell and bowel cancer survivor, Kin Leong about the creation of Bowel Cancer Australia's latest awareness campaign, "Australia's Deadliest".

They discuss the brief, the process, and the final result in developing an advertising campaign that resonates with the target audience and delivers on the key message that you are never too young for bowel cancer.&n...

Jake talks to Stephanie about how his life was tipped on its head after his stage 4 diagnosis at 31 and how he had to re-frame his dreams and life plan, including starting a family.

Upbeat and one to always try and find a silver lining, Jake discusses the importance of letting go of the things you can’t control and maintaining a positive approach despite the tougher moments.

Passionate about raising awareness, Jake talks ab...

Gabrielle talks to Stephanie about the importance of participating in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, which she credits with saving her life. 

As a regional patient, Gabrielle discusses the barriers she faced in receiving support with her initial diagnosis, the importance of exercise in her daily life, and how she is learning to navigate ongoing treatment with her new mantra - "to try to be miserable for as little...

When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer it is hard enough for an adult to comprehend, but for a child it’s even more difficult.  In this episode, Angus rejoins his Mum, Stephanie, this time as the interviewee.

He talks through his experience dealing with her diagnosis.

In this heartwarming discussion, Angus talks about the importance of positivity, routine and making the most of each and every day with your loved ones.

This epi...