Personal stories of those affected by bowel cancer

"Being told you have cancer a second time is surreal. It was a major relief to be told how small it was."

"I was 32 when I was diagnosed .It was a slow process getting my diagnosis..."

"There was so little time between diagnosis and surgery that I don’t believe I truly processed it..."

"My name is Nicola and I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic bowel cancer last year, at 43..."

"I am 42 years old, with two kids (11 and 13) who very much still need their mum..."

"I was diagnosed in November 2021 with stage 3 sigmoid colon cancer. My children were 6, 4 and 3."

"After my diagnosis, my GP called me... 'I'm sorry, cancer never crossed my mind because of your age.'"

I started needing to move my bowels several times a day and to the point of urgency...

A massive stage 3 tumour was discovered with surgery 4 weeks later. If it wasn’t for my doctor...

I was diagnosed at the age of 26, with stage 3B bowel cancer, while I was 28 weeks pregnant...

My sister was staying with us, saying I had to go to the doctor cos I was in so much pain...

I'll never forget Heath's reply…' But you can fix it, right?' All the colour drained from the room and from our world...

I had been told I could be lactose intolerant or have IBS and also tested for celiac disease and colitis. All negative...

I had been having blood in my stool for about a year before my diagnosis. When I first noticed the blood, it was only small...

Everywhere I have been, the recurring theme is that I’m just too young. But I’m hearing of more young people getting it...

There's a saying "Life begins at 40" but for me it was very nearly the end of my life. Not long after my 40th Birthday celebration...

After my diagnosis, all I really wanted was to hear the experiences of women just like me - so here’s my story for you.

I should have seen my Dr about it a long time ago, but I was naive and thought it was nothing... if I’d just listened to my instincts.

I’m a singer who writes nice, thoughtful songs. But cancer isn’t polite or thoughtful, it doesn’t worry about offending anyone.

I was 37 when I was diagnosed - our children were 5 and 7, and our village enveloped us in support.

I was 31 when diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, and 5 months pregnant with my second IVF baby.

I’m a 'half full' kind of guy... holding on to what the Dr said, “it looked early, I had a good shot at beating it."

We really hope my journey can inspire others battling this dreaded disease to step out with a positive mindset.

I have a great appreciation for my scars – they’re beautiful proof that I am alive and I’m here.

Thankfully it turned out to be a small tumour with 85% chance of cure.

Dr Anne Mathieson is a 36-year old GP and bowel cancer survivor - offering a unique perspective as a medical advisor.

If you are wondering whether to get that 'little symptom' checked or not - go to your GP!

To put it into perspective, a month after visiting my G.P, I was being discharged from hospital. Read more of Marcel's story here:

Jonny had always been fit and healthy. He ate well, exercises, and looks after himself.

I was fortunate that my GP was thorough and followed up on my test results.

Anna was fit and healthy and didn’t think she fitted the profile of a bowel cancer patient.

I noticed blood intermittently for three weeks before going to the doctor.

Because I was in my late 30s, I went through a drawn-out process and delays.

I personally think the biggest challenge in cancer is the mental battle, not the physical one.

They say hindsight is a great thing and that is true. I now realise I was showing signs something wasn't right back on January 06. Read more.

In April 2016 at age 38 Renee underwent surgery to remove a tumour from her bowel. Read more of her story here:

My name is Anita, I’m 38 and I have survived cancer twice. My story with bowel cancer started when my Nana died from it. Read more here:

I just want to make sure that anybody that has the symptoms – please get them checked, I didn’t, don’t make my mistake. Read more.

"Two weeks after competing in a 160km Ultramarathon, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer. I've been an athlete pretty much all my life"

"It started as any other year, that was until things got real. As far as it’s my story it’s really our story, the ours includes the hero, my loving wife.."

"In Feb this year, I enjoyed walking 73.5kms of the Queen Charlotte Track. In April, I got a shock diagnosis of Stage 4 bowel cancer."

"I noticed a few signs of blood, the odd time, on my toilet paper.. at different times over about 4 months."

"... In my mind cancer was a death sentence. Which of course it wasn’t because I am still here, alive and kicking."

"If I had not done the FIT [the bowel screening] test in January I would not have realised I had cancer..."

There is a history of bowel cancer in my family; my mother having died at 48 and my brother having died at 36 from it.

[The Doctor] said I was so anemic she was surprised I was conscious and able to function... So began Bowel Cancer Act I...

Even though I was well aware of our family history, I went through life trying to avoid thinking about it.

Back from the brink. Get checked at the first miniscule inkling that something may be amiss.

I take life a day at a time and make it my priority to find joy every day.

Never in my mind did I ever think I would ever get cancer.

 Don't be afraid to see your doctor if you have any symptoms that are worrying you.

John had turned 67, retired and was happily setting up a small part time financial advisory service.

Patrick's daughter Rachel didn’t know anything about bowel cancer until it struck her family twice.

"As a family we could not be more proud of the woman she was and the fight she put up to beat this horrible disease..."

"In ED we were told my wife has bowel cancer that had spread to the liver, and it didn’t look curable..."

My husband Cliff was 41 when finally diagnosed. He had been fobbed off for about 18 months being told he was too young...

"Dan started getting some pains before and after using the loo about a year ago, he didn't think anything of it, as it would come and go.

It is two years since I lost my best friend. I try to really live, and to count my blessings.

My husband was diagnosed after repeatedly being fobbed off by the GP.

Our ambassador Jenny-May Clarkson shares how her brother's death from bowel cancer affected her family.

My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer at just 42 years old, on our youngest child’s birthday.

Patrick's daughter Rachel didn’t know anything about bowel cancer until it struck her family twice.

Jonny had always been fit and healthy. He ate well, exercises, and looks after himself.

I was fortunate that my GP was thorough and followed up on my test results.

Anna was fit and healthy and didn’t think she fitted the profile of a bowel cancer patient.

Our ambassador Jenny-May Clarkson shares how her brother's death from bowel cancer affected her family.

Dr Anne Mathieson is a 36-year old GP and bowel cancer survivor - offering a unique perspective as a medical advisor.

If you’re concerned about your doctor’s diagnosis, keep going back or get a second opinion.

Only 10% of bowel cancer is inherited, so the way you live does have an impact says Professor Frizelle who treats bowel cancer patients almost everyday.

"I was diagnosed in November 2021 with stage 3 sigmoid colon cancer. My children were 6, 4 and 3."

When I turned to flush I noticed something in my poop that looked like dark red lines...

[The Doctor] said I was so anemic she was surprised I was conscious and able to function... So began Bowel Cancer Act I...

I noticed blood intermittently for three weeks before going to the doctor.

I just want to make sure that anybody that has the symptoms – please get them checked, I didn’t, don’t make my mistake. Read more.