Samantha’s Story

“The diagnosis: (Rectal carcinoma with group G streptococcal sepsis in the early third trimester)
I was diagnosed at the age of 26, with stage 3B bowel cancer, while I was 28 weeks pregnant with my son Lockie. The tumour filled my entire large bowel and perforated, going into the blood which resulted in Septicemia. They almost lost us both.
My son was delivered at 28 weeks 5 days old and spent 3.5 months in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Following the delivery, I was given an ileostomy (bag) to give my bowel a chance to rest while I had treatment. I had this for 377 days. This was quite hard to deal with later on but I didn’t really have time to think about it as it was straight into radiation and oral chemotherapy. There was a small window of opportunity and we just had to take it.
There was no time to pin ovaries or to freeze eggs for future children (I had severe endometriosis prior). I could never have any more children – Lockie was my miracle.
At the diagnosis stage, the tumour was too large, so an operation was off the table hence a 5-week stint of daily radiation and oral chemotherapy.
A few weeks later I had a setback as the little buggers got into my liver so I had a few rounds of Folfox before liver surgery. The hardest part of going into this surgery, was saying goodbye to my son, who I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see him again. My body was weak but I knew I had to fight for him.
I spent a lot of time in hospital, while my son was in NICU. I would rest all day to go down to NICU to spend time with and read to him. He was my fight and nothing has changed, 7.5 years later.
After the successful removal of the two cells in my liver, more chemotherapy followed in an effort to continue to shrink the tumour in my bowel. The tumour had shrunk by 75%. Due to my response to treatment, it had now made an impossible operation, possible.
The morning of the tumour removal was emotional, just like the liver surgery. I’ll never forget picking up my six-month-old son and saying goodbye. It was different this time. I held him in my arms, hugged him and kissed him. My heart broke but again I knew I had to maintain my determination and strength to keep fighting so I could see him again.
The tumour in my bowel was successfully removed and there was enough to rejoin. To finally have that out of my body, I still can’t describe that feeling.
An intensive monitoring period – CT scans, MRI scans, regular tumour marker blood tests (I felt like a pin cushion), countless specialist visits – followed. Once I’d finished my chemotherapy (the magic 12 rounds) the ileostomy reversal happened; and eventually appointments started to become further and further apart.
Receiving the ‘you are cancer free’ news definitely took a few minutes to sink in. A lot of happy tears and what felt like the largest weight I’d been carrying for five years, lifted. I am so grateful and so thankful to all the medical teams that were part of my journey. I felt as though I had the best of the best – from oncology to surgeons and support staff, fighting in my corner.
My diagnosis (Rectal carcinoma with group G streptococcal sepsis in the early third trimester) was published in the 2018 International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Journal.
I wanted to help and make sure that if anyone ever presented in similar circumstances to myself, they may have some idea of what a potential diagnosis might be.
As part of being a support person for those that are currently going through bowel cancer, I’ve been lucky enough to have formed wonderful friendships with the most incredible people that are giving everything they can and more to fight this cruel disease.
Being a support person isn’t easy, but this was one way I felt that I could give back. Sadly, I’ve lost my friends now, but they are also at peace which is a comfort. I’ll cherish the memories we made together, forever.
I’m now at seven years remission. I am thankful for every day.”” email to us – “”Trail Running is my happy place so I’ve attached a recent photo from a 34km trail run I completed in October.

The journey has been long and tough but anything I can do to help others going through this, including sharing my story, I will do it 😊

Thank you for putting the opportunity out there to share. It’s so important.”