I’m sure the entire NSW Parliament rejoices in the great news that Liberal MP Matt Cross has successfully beaten bowel cancer and returns in good health to serve his electorate (“Get tested and beat bowel cancer”, DT, 19/6). He was extremely lucky in his diagnosis, as his routine blood donor commitment detected a low haemoglobin level, due to chronic blood loss and low iron levels. Symptomatic with tiredness, which must be universal among Cross’s hard-working colleagues, things could have taken a more sinister turn if not for his good luck. His article on the course of his disease and various titbits of preventative advice is well supported by the best medical evidence. However, what must be reinforced is how important early medical consultation is and that we must resist advertising for self-prescribed medicines to treat perceived symptoms when doing so often masks the diagnosis. If Cross had bought some iron tablets at the chemist shop because of its advertised benefits to treat tiredness, the symptoms would have abated but the ultimate outcome would have been dire. We must stop treating our own symptoms while being oblivious to potential underlying pathology. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 20June2024