Bowel Cancer

Better prevention needed to reduce the rate of younger people getting cancer, experts say

She had raised concerns with her GP about symptoms like fatigue and irregular bowel habits.

Those didn't immediately raise a red flag, because at the time she was a shift-working mother of three in her late 30s.

It was only when she went back to her GP with rectal bleeding that she was diagnosed.

"When we put it all together, we realised what was going on," she said.

Because she was younger than 50 when she was diagnosed, Nina's case is classified as an "early onset" cancer.

A voice to help Ostomates continues to call for help

An Ostomate is a person who has undergone a surgical procedure to create an opening in the body called a stoma, used to discharge waste. 

Janet Yaki, an Ostomate herself, registered the PNG Stoma Association in 2011 to be a voice and vehicle of Ostomates in the country.

Their theme this year is “Many stories, One Voice!”

But to this day, Yaki is the only Ostomate pushing the association forward.

“It is still very hard for Ostomates to find the courage to come out because of the stigma that surrounds them,” she said.

PNG Stoma Foundation continues to survive on Charity

The fundraiser saw business houses and individuals stepping in with cash and kind to push the foundation towards achieving its goal.

Founder Janet Yaki, an ostomate herself, thanked all those who have been supporting the society over the years.

She was emotional when reflecting on the hardships of ostomates in the country.

An Ostomate is a person who has undergone a surgical procedure to create an opening in the body that will be used to discharge waste. 

PNG Stoma Association Hosts Dinner to Raise Much Needed Funds

The dinner which was initially scheduled for October 5 but deferred is the foundation’s biggest fundraiser hosted in the past five years.

The Stoma association, formed by ostomate Janet Yaki is dedicated to assisting other ostomates in the country live normal lives .

It receives assistance from various charities and groups.

The fundraising dinner is aimed at raising funds to assist establish a specialist centre in the country, one that will cost more than K1.5 million.

Lack of cancer awareness slows Foundation goals

Janet Yaki, founder and interim president of the PNG Stoma Association faces similar situation in her path to fighting stoma in the country.