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Personal stories of those affected by bowel cancer

Read the personal stories of New Zealanders living with bowel cancer, and their families and supporters

Young people (under 50)

Lara

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

Abbie

When someone says life is too short, treat every day like it’s your last. Maybe we should.

Marcel

To put it into perspective, a month after visiting my G.P. with abdominal pain, I was being discharged from hospital post-surgery.

Chelsea

Life was trucking along beautifully in August 2015. I’d established my own business.

Jonny

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

Britt

I found out in the middle of December 2017 I have stage 4 bowel cancer.

Anaru

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

Kathy

I was active and health conscious, and I turned to Dr Google when I thought my symptoms were down to food intolerances.

Anna

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

Solon

Working in construction and putting in long hours I put a lot of my symptoms down to the nature of my occupation.

Sarah

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

Jenny

Despite displaying all of the symptoms of bowel cancer, I was put in the box of “young, fit and healthy”.

Fiona

I went through a drawn-out process and delays including being denied a specialist appointment twice.

Katherine

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

Brad

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

Aaron

Nothing could prepare me for the journey that I’ve taken over the last 18 months.

Bart

Bart’s is an encouraging story of the benefits of acting on the first signs of bowel cancer.

Nadine

Diagnosed at 45, Nadine tells her story of the events and decision making which shaped her bowel cancer experience.

Suzanne

Kia Ora my name is Suzanne and I was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer in October 2006 when I was 46.

Jewel

Hi my name is Jewel Brown and last year at the age of 30 I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Bowel Cancer.

Renee

In April 2016 Renee underwent surgery to remove a tumour from her bowel.

Stefan

Stefan was 47 when he was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer.

Anita

My story with bowel cancer started when my Nana died from it when I was a young girl.

Jason

The C Word comes in many forms, but manifests itself most shockingly in real life not on film, music or TV.

Karen

Even though I was constantly reminded that I only had 40% chance of surviving, I thought those were pretty good odds.

Ron

67 year old Ron was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 50 and had no symptoms despite a family history.

Peter

Peter is 62, living in Taranaki. After recently being diagnosed with Mitochondrial Myopathy (CPEO).

Nell

I experienced some family stress almost 5 years ago so I decided to visit my GP for a check.

John

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

Alan

Having made it past 60 relatively unscathed I had no real concerns with my health...

Patrick

Six years ago Patrick's daughter Rachel didn’t know anything about bowel cancer. Then it struck her family twice.

Samantha

No one deserves to die of Bowel Cancer. Everyone deserves time, dignity and hope.

Jenny-May

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

Richard

My wife Dominique will always be remembered as a loving mother who gave everything of herself.

Turid

My husband Mike was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer at just 42 years old, on our youngest child’s 6th birthday.

Cody

Dad won't ever get to meet any grandchildren or walk my sister down the aisle.

Patrick

Six years ago Patrick's daughter Rachel didn’t know anything about bowel cancer. Then it struck her family twice.

Chelsea

Life was trucking along beautifully in August 2015. I’d established my own business.

Jonny

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

Britt

I found out in the middle of December 2017 I have stage 4 bowel cancer.

Anaru

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

Kathy

I was active and health conscious, and I turned to Dr Google when I thought my symptoms were down to food intolerances.

Anna

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

Jenny

Despite displaying all of the symptoms of bowel cancer, I was put in the box of “young, fit and healthy”.

Jenny-May

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

Dr Paddy Bhula

Paddy describes bowel cancer symptoms and urges us to see our GP to discuss such symptoms.

Bart

Bart’s is an encouraging story of the benefits of acting on the first signs of bowel cancer.

Ron

67 year old Ron was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 50 and had no symptoms despite a family history.

Nadine

Diagnosed at 45, Nadine tells her story of the events and decision making which shaped her bowel cancer experience.

Dr Alasdair Patrick

We’re all working to make sure that bowel cancer is something Kiwis can talk about and to reduce the embarrassment factor.

Dr Sue Crengle

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

Dr Damianovich

In the last 20 years, no new drugs have been approved in New Zealand specifically for bowel cancer.

Prof. Frank Frizelle

Only 10% of bowel cancer is inherited, so the way you live does have an impact.

Dr Paddy Bhula

Paddy describes bowel cancer symptoms and urges us to see our GP to discuss such symptoms.

Katherine

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

Brad

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

Karen

Even though I was constantly reminded that I only had 40% chance of surviving, I thought those were pretty good odds.

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Personal stories of those affected by bowel cancer

Read the personal stories of New Zealanders living with bowel cancer, and their families and supporters

Young people (under 50)

Age 50+

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