Kirstie Alley's cause of death has been revealed, and experts warn us to test too

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Beloved actor Kirstie Alley has passed away due to cancer, and now experts are warning more Australians to get tested after so many people delayed during the pandemic.

A spokesperson for beloved actor Kirstie Alley has revealed that she passed away at 71 due to colon cancer. In Australia, this type of cancer is more commonly known as bowel or rectal cancer.

This detail was published in People yesterday, allegedly from Alley’s media representative.

It comes after the actor’s family shared an announcement on Twitter, explaining that she had passed due to a form of cancer that was only ‘recently discovered’.

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Her children, True and Lillie Parker said, “We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered.”

“She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead.”

The siblings honoured their mother, saying that while the world knew her as an ‘iconic’ screen name, “she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother."

Image: Getty Images

And finally, they said that their mother’s ‘zest for life’ had inspired them to live it to the fullest, ‘just as she did’.

This emotional message was shared around the world yesterday as fans mourned the actress who starred in so many popular shows, her role on Cheers, Veronica’s Closet, Scream Queens and films including Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan and It Takes Two.

Her fellow actors on Cheers have posted tributes for Alley, including Kelsey Grammar, Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman. Celebrities Jamie Lee Curtis, Tim Allen and John Travolta also revealed their grief at her loss.

Image: Getty Images

While bowel cancer is a type that can be treated by doctors, symptoms aren't always noticed, or obvious, so it needs to be tested for.

According to The Cancer Institute NSW, more than 100,000 bowel cancer screening kits sent out to eligible Australians between January and June this year were not returned.

“Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in NSW. But if it’s found early it can be successfully treated in more than 90 per cent of cases,” they explained.

The dietitian-approved shortcut to finding relief from IBS. Image: iStock

Chief Pharmacist for TerryWhite Chemmart, Brenton Hart, is calling for more Australian to take note of their bowel health early. He says research suggests that those born after 1990 have “double the risk of bowel cancer” than those born in 1950.

Hart asks all of us to take a look in the loo after we’ve passed a bowel motion, and seek a doctor’s assistance if something isn’t right.

“Get off your phone, stand up and have a look, and if you think there is something going on, head to your GP to have a discussion,” he said. “The good news is that up to 99% of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated if found early.”

Image: IStock

Nick Lee, Founder and Chair at Jodi Lee Foundation said: “Blood in your poo may indicate the presence of polyps or bowel cancer, among other causes. Raising awareness of the importance of speaking to your GP if you notice blood in your poo, or any long term, persistent changes to your poo, the more lives we can save.”

There is a National Bowel Cancer Screening Program in Australia, which will send out free, self-screening kits to eligible Australians from 50 to 74 years old.

You can find out more about who should do a bowel cancer screening test here.  

Originally published as Kirstie Alley's cause of death has been revealed, and experts warn us to test too