As I sat in my hospital gown hooked up to the monitor, the doctor asked why I was coming in for a colonoscopy, I replied: 'no bowel issues, just family history'.

In recovery he came over and said: 'well thank goodness you came in today. We removed two polyps, one rather large, both that would have definitely turned cancerous within six months'.

That was exactly six months ago.

With my eyes closed tight, I hit the send button on this message when I posted it to social media recently.

I didn't know what to expect or how people would react.

Surely no one wants to know about my poo.

But it was met with friends and strangers telling me about their own experiences and losses.

One who had multiple polyps removed by having a colonoscopy before the age of 40 and another who had 21.

Others who broke down telling me about those they had lost and some who said: "great post, thanks for reminding me".

Coincidentally my message was posted in Bowel Cancer Awareness month (which happens to be this month).

This is Bowel Cancer Australia's signature awareness and fundraising campaign where statistics show that every year 15,206 Australians are told they have bowel cancer - that's 293 a week.

Of those 1542 are under the age of 50.

At 41, I don't have enough fingers to count the family and friends I've lost to cancer including my grandmother. My aunt had 30cm of her bowel removed due to cancer at the age 44.

When I booked in for my colonoscopy, I didn't want to become another statistic.

And like the doctor said, thank goodness I did.

I'm not usually one to talk about these private matters but it's important to get the message out there.

Seriously get checked, it's no big deal.

One day of pooping your brains out for the colonoscopy procedure, is a day well spent.

We don't want to say goodbye to anymore loved ones who are diagnosed with this insidious disease.

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