‘Captain’ Paul Shepherd reveals cancer diagnosis on Perth’s The Big Breakfast
Perth radio veteran ‘Captain’ Paul Shepherd revealed on this morning’s Mix 94.5 The Big Breakfast that he has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
What started off as cramps Shepherd thought were related to heartburn or stress led to the diagnosis, which will see him undergo surgery next week to remove the five to six centimetre mass.
“Earlier this year, I started getting a few cramps in my stomach, thought it was heartburn, thought it was stress,” he told Dean Clairs, Matt Dyktynski and Kymba Cahill (Clairsy, Matt and Kymba).
“It was on and off, sometimes it would go away, sometimes it would come back and I just put up with it.”
Shepherd, who has been on air in Perth delivering daily traffic updates for 27 years, told a producer for The Big Breakfast, who made a GP appointment for him immediately.
Shepherd spoke about his diagnosis on the radio in order to implore people to take a free test available to Australians over 50 through the government’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
“My [test] was sitting up the top of the cupboard and has been for months and I think this is the second one, I chucked the first one away,” he said.
The Big Breakfast crew
“That goes to show what a dick I’ve been, because this could have been on to it.”
Shepherd added that humour has been key in processing the news.
“I always had it in my head that I would handle that news well and I did. I thought this is my journey now,” he said.
“Humour keeps you happy and keeps you healthy.
“It’s got me off my bum and started exercising, prepping for this op but also to get fit and healthy and get through it.”
Brittney Rigby was Mumbrella's deputy managing editor - news and analysis. She left Mumbrella in April 2021.
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bowel cancer
Captain Paul Shepherd
Clairsy Matt and Kymba
Mix 94.5
Perth radio
radio
The Big Breakfast
