Dan’s Story

Dan and his Mother Tracy.

Dan represented Bowel Cancer NZ in the 2024 Auckland Marathon, running for his Mum, Tracy and fundraising for Bowel Cancer NZ.

“Mum was diagnosed in 2020 at the age of 49, with stage 4 colorectal cancer. It had metastasised to her lymph nodes and to her liver. Mum received surgery on the liver and on the large bowel to remove the cancer. Mum then underwent several rounds of chemotherapy. After finishing chemotherapy, the cancer soon returned to her uterus and ovaries and therefore underwent a full hysterectomy. Mum then received further chemotherapy. The cancer then returned in her peritoneum, and it was pronounced that her condition was inoperable. Mum was classified as palliative.

The journey for mum was a difficult one with many ups and downs. Mum’s perspective on life changed significantly and she always said this experience made her see what was truly important in life and to not sweat the small stuff. Mum’s strength and resilience was taken to another level and throughout the entire journey she showed nothing but strength and determination.

Being her eldest child, I struggled to see mum go through this and felt helpless due to not being able to fix the problem. Regardless of this, life continued to go on with its normal day to day obstacles such as work, paying the bills, raising children and despite the cancer, mum continued to be mum and always provided support and guidance. Although mum went peacefully, it came with very real emotional, physical, and mental challenges and even 3 months later, there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t miss her.

I still remember the day she found out she had cancer. I’ve had a grandparent pass from cancer, but I never thought in a million years I would lose my own mother to cancer, especially at such a young age. Bowel cancer took our mother, wife, sister, aunty, cousin, and nana away. This impacted our whānau physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and financially. To a more positive note, it has encouraged my sister and I to really look after our bodies, eat well, exercise more and to get checked.

I’ve seen the work Bowel Cancer NZ has been doing in communities to raise awareness. I chose to fundraise for Bowel Cancer NZ to ultimately, spread awareness and reduce the chance of another whānau or person having to go through what we and our mother had to go through.

Bowel cancer is a lot more common than what people think, and the symptoms for it can be very subtle in the beginning. Therefore, I’d urge people to get checked and encourage others around you to get checked as well.

I am deeply grateful for the support from everyone. It is amazing, no matter how tough times are for people, they still give to initiatives which truly matter. I know my mum would be extremely grateful and would want her passing to serve as a reminder to everyone to look after themselves, get checked out sooner and cherish everyday as if it was your last.”