Melissa’s Story

“Pay attention to your poo! It’s not yuck or gross or weird, we all do it! If anything looks weird, tell your doctor! “

Auckland mum Melissa Laing was just 31 when she was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer – after 18 months of being told nothing was wrong. Despite experiencing severe weight loss, constant bloating, fatigue, abdominal pain, and then blood in her stool, her concerns were repeatedly dismissed. It wasn’t until she begged for a colonoscopy that doctors discovered the cancer that had been growing unnoticed for far too long.

Melissa underwent a 9.5-hour surgery to remove her entire colon and woke up to find she would be living with an ileostomy bag. What was meant to be temporary lasted a year, as she completed twelve rounds of chemotherapy in six months. The physical and emotional toll was immense – from adjusting to a new body to managing the fatigue and anxiety that followed treatment – but she was determined to keep going for her young daughter.

Now cancer-free, Melissa describes the experience as life-changing. She says losing an entire organ forced her to learn self-compassion and to prioritise her health. Though social situations can still cause anxiety, she focuses on gratitude:

“I am ALIVE and I am so very grateful for that and that I got to beat this.”

Melissa’s hope for the future is that more young people learn to no be embarrassed to talk about their poo. “If something is off, talk about it!” and that more people with bowel cancer are caught earlier and can survive. The earlier it’s found the more lives can be saved.