Home and Away star Lynne McGranger has signed on for a brand-new role, but never fear – her beloved character, Irene Roberts, isn’t going anywhere soon.
The Silver Logie-nominated actress has teamed up with the Cancer Council to remind Australians to get an important health check once they turn 50.
As part of a new campaign encouraging people to take the bowel cancer screening test, Lynne reflected on some milestone moments in her own life, from her long and successful acting career to her daughter Clancy’s wedding.
Watch Home & Away on Channel 7 and stream it for free on 7plus >>
She admits freely that she wasn’t “an angel” herself and didn’t do her first screening test until she was almost 70.
“I took it for the first time last year, and it was such a weight off my shoulders to know I’d done something so easy to contribute positively to my health,” she says.
“My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.
“There are still so many milestones I want to enjoy – taking the test is one way to make sure I don’t miss any of them, like my daughter’s wedding.”
The Cancel Council approached Lynne to talk about major life milestones as a way to encourage people not to throw away those bowel screening test kits when they arrive in the mail – as so many people seem to do.
“The participation rates on the bowel cancer screening tests are very low, around 40 per cent, which is pretty terrible,” Lynne tells 7Life.
“But honestly, the test takes two minutes.
“I love the hashtag Get2It, because it takes two minutes, it’s a Number Two, and you do it over two consecutive days.
“And that’s what you have to say to people – get to it, do it, it’s simple to do, it’s hygienic and it may save your life.”
Wake-up call
More than half of Australians questioned in a recent survey said major personal milestones – such as going on a holiday, attending their child’s wedding, or seeing their grandchildren born – would be likely to motivate them to start prioritising their health more.
And almost 80 per cent of those said they wish they’d started prioritising their health much earlier.
Often, it takes an unwanted wake-up call, such as a cancer or other health diagnosis, for people to start taking their health and well-being more seriously.
In a new video for the campaign, Lynne goes on a tour through her past, sharing some special memories and photographs from her life,
“I dragged out some special things, like my 1974 Wagga Wagga Best Actress in the Wagga Wagga Drama Festival trophy,” she laughs.
One photo shows Lynne during her time with the Murray River Performing Group, where she met her partner Paul; another shows their performing group, the Sensational Spangles, a 60s-themed rock and roll group.
In 1991, Lynne and Paul welcomed their daughter Clancy into the world – and this week, she gets to watch her walk down the aisle.
“There have been so many beautiful times and wonderful milestones in her life, as well as my own,” she says.
“We’re hoping we’ll be grandparents before we lose our marbles!
“Keeping our fingers crossed for that, no pressure.”
Lynne says the whole idea of milestones coming up struck a chord with her precisely because of Clancy’s impending nuptials.
“We’re very excited about that, and then there’s Christmas at our place this year, which will be interesting because I can’t cook to save myself, then next May we’re planning to do an overseas trip … all of those things are things to look forward to, and they wouldn’t be possible if I was struggling with illness and being treated for something that, like with bowel cancer, I could have detected and have treated earlier if I’d just done that test,” she says.
Lynne says she felt “blessed” that her screening late last year – the first one she had ever done – came back with an all-clear.
“I’m not proud of the fact that it took me so long,” she says.
“I’m not some goody-two-shoes who has been doing it from the moment I turned 50; I haven’t.
“And then I did it, and got the right result, thank goodness, and was thrilled to bits.
“But I also know that if things had been a bit iffy, if it’s detected early, 90 per cent of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated.”
Lynne admits she didn’t really start taking her own health seriously until her father died of cancer in 2005.
“I gave up smoking, and that was a big one for me, a really big one,” she says.
“At that point, I started to get fitter, healthier, and now I exercise three to four days a week.
“I’ve always eaten well; I’m not a sugar person, although I do love a glass of red wine.
“Then, knowing that the big 7-0 was looming, and our daughter getting married, knowing that was coming up, staying in good health became even more important.
“I’m very proud now to be on board with the Cancer Council and excited by the idea of being able to influence other people to get their screening test done.”
The National Bowel Screening Program test is quick and hygienic and can be completed at home and returned in the post.
More information is available here.
For more engaging entertainment content, visit 7Life on Facebook.
If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your .
To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.