The East Nowra resident knows the odds are in her favour but she also knows the sooner she can get treatment, if needed, the better odds for a positive outcome.

And while her doctor understands this, and requested she has a colonoscopy within 30 days, bureaucracy, politics, the health system or all the above have let her down. Her procedure is scheduled for November.

On Friday we published the story of Betty Bourke from Sanctuary Point who was put on a waiting list for four months for the same procedure.

Mrs Jones saw that article and came forward with her concern. She had almost the same dates as Mrs Bourke.

She had seen her doctor in early June, he requested the potentially life-saving procedure within 30 days at Shoalhaven Hospital.

A few days later Mrs Jones received a letter from the hospital advising her the procedure would most likely be in November.

“I was a bit surprised to get a letter saying it would be November,” Mrs Jones said.

“If you need to have an operation within 30 days I think it needs to happen as close to that time as possible.

“I have had breast cancer, but I am trying not to let this worry me.

“I’ve only ever been in hospital for the birth of my three sons and the time I had cancer and each time I was very happy with how they treated me,” she said.

A hospital spokesperson said the waiting time was due to increased screenings for bowel diseases.

“This can sometimes result in waiting time increases,” the spokesperson said.

“NSW public hospitals continue to work very closely with the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program to ensure public patients are seen as quickly as possible.”