Episode 1457 Positive on the Test — Choosing Action Over Waiting

Host Murray Stewart opens episode 1457 from Melbourne with a personal and urgent story: he recently returned a positive result from the National Bowel Cancer Screening Test. He explains the importance of early detection, the emotional toll of waiting for specialist care in remote Australia, and the practical steps he took to accelerate diagnosis. Murray recounts how, faced with a five-week wait for a gastroenterologist in Alice Springs, he used personal connections to secure a rapid consult with Dr. Luke, a leading GI specialist in Melbourne. He describes agreeing to travel south for the consult and an upcoming procedure scheduled for Friday that will determine whether the positive result is a false positive or indicates bowel cancer. Murray stresses getting on the front foot, considering private care if necessary, and the value of acting quickly to improve outcomes. The episode also touches on the support network around Murray — his support worker who helped make the connection, Heather (who confirms the episode number), and the role friends and medical professionals can play when time is critical. He candidly shares his hopes for a false positive, his ongoing nervousness, and his rationale for prioritizing timely diagnosis despite costs. In a lighter segment, Murray celebrates being in Melbourne to (hopefully) catch AC/DC live — reflecting on the band’s enduring power, Angus Young’s performance, the rave reviews from their first show, and how the band continues to win over younger audiences. He paints a vivid picture of the concert’s volume, reach across Melbourne suburbs, and why real live music still moves people across generations. This episode combines a frank, personal health update and practical encouragement for listeners to participate in screening programs and pursue prompt follow-up if tests are positive, with a joyful tribute to one of Australia’s greatest rock exports.