A Hairy Solution to Help Beat Bowel Cancer

December is usually associated with Christmas and good cheer. It is also the month when Decembeard is held where men are encouraged to grow a beard to help increase awareness of bowel cancer in men and raise much needed funding.

Many of us have close relatives or friends who have had cancer or know someone who does. There are many types of cancers that can affect people from small skin cancers due to too much sun or more invasive cancers such as bowel or breast cancer.

Bowel cancer affects one in 10 men in Australia, and according to Bowel Cancer Australia, it is the second biggest cause of death from cancer and was the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2017.  In 2021 more men than women were diagnosed with, or died from, colorectal cancer.

But today more than ever, there are ways to identify the disease and treat it successfully. New breakthroughs in cures and research are occurring all the time, many of which are funded through donations from events such as Decembeard.

The chance of surviving bowel cancer for at least five years is now 70%. Early detection plays a big part in surviving bowel cancer and when identified early, almost 99% of cases can be treated successfully.

Like most cancers, bowel cancer can be treated particularly if symptoms are recognised early. The following can assist with early detection:

Get tested – either via your GP or using an at-home bowel screening test. These can be ordered online or bought from your local pharmacy.
Look for symptoms such as:

blood after a bowel motion
a change in bowel habit
weight loss, or
abdominal pain or bloating.

For more tips on how to detect early symptoms click here. Please keep in mind that this information isn’t medical advice – always consult your medical practitioner if you have concerns about any of the conditions or symptoms mentioned.

Don’t want to grow a beard? Don’t worry!

Decembeard is designed for those of us who don’t want to or can’t grow a beard. Both men and women can get involved by growing their hair. Or even trimming, waxing and dyeing it. The possibilities are endless and all for a good cause.

Cancer and Life Insurance

You may be thinking of taking out cover to give you that extra peace of mind in the event you could be diagnosed with cancer. Whilst there are various types of Life Insurance cover, there are two main types which spring to mind in the cancer context:

Life Insurance Cover (commonly known as ‘life cover’ or term Life Insurance’)

Many life cover policies, such as NobleOak’s, pay the amount of the death benefit in advance if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness by two doctors (one of whom is a specialist in the field) likely to result in your death within 2 years, instead of when you die.

Trauma Insurance

This is a specific type of Life Insurance that pays a lump sum benefit if you are diagnosed with one of the serious medical condition listed in the PDS, such as cancer (known as cancers – excluding specified early-stage cancers in the PDS), and pays a lump sum on diagnosis.

If you have had cancer you may still be able to get cover, depending on whether you are undergoing treatment or in remission and the type of cancer you had.

To learn more about NobleOak’s Life Insurance Cover and Trauma Cover click here or to request a quote, call NobleOak on 1300 041 494.

Click here to find out more about Decembeard and Decembhair and how to get involved.

Important information – The Target Market Determinations for NobleOak’s Life Insurance products are available on our website at https://www.nobleoak.com.au/target-market-determination/ . Cover is issued by NobleOak Life Limited ABN 85 087 648 708 AFSL No. 247302. Address: 66 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Phone: 1300 108 490. Email: [email protected]

Cover is available to Australian residents and is subject to acceptance of the application and the terms and conditions set out in the PDS for the product. This information is of a general nature only and does not take into consideration your individual circumstances, objectives, financial situation or needs. Before you purchase an insurance product, you should carefully consider the PDS to decide if it is right for you. The PDS is available by calling NobleOak on 1300 108 490 or from www.nobleoak.com.au. Clients should not cancel any existing Life Insurance policy until they have been informed in writing that their replacement cover is in place. NobleOak cannot provide you with personal advice, but our staff may provide general information about NobleOak Life Insurance. By supplying your contact details, you are consenting to be contacted by NobleOak, in accordance with NobleOak’s Privacy Policy.