Aucklander David Vinsen works in the motor vehicle business and is all too aware of the importance of having a current warrant of fitness – both for our vehicles and our health.

This was brought home for David when a routine bowel screening test came back positive. “It was a bit of a shock because I was leading a busy, active life and didn’t suspect anything was wrong.”

Dave was sent for a colonoscopy, a procedure where a tiny camera is used to examine the bowel. The investigation found an early stage cancer. “I was very fortunate that it wasn’t invasive and hadn’t spread widely,” he says.

“I had major surgery to remove the cancer, a colostomy bag for 4 months and then minor surgery to connect things up again (basically a plumbing exercise), and a period of recuperation. Not a pleasant experience, but far better than the alternative.”

David’s advice: “Do the test; don’t be scared about it. It’s not at all embarrassing or awkward."