Personal stories of those affected by bowel cancer

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

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

I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer 4 years ago. What followed was a year long rollercoaster ride of

I was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer back in 2016 when I was 36 years old. I'd been having mild symptoms

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

It’s a scary thing to be told you have Cancer. I was 44, owned a busy cafe, I was a

“Please don’t ignore symptoms."

I have become circumspect about the whole thing. I just think it is what it is and I just have

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

"...not in my wildest dreams did I believe I would get a cancer diagnosis."

I am a busy and active Mum of two toddlers and receiving a Bowel Cancer diagnosis in early 2023 was

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

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

My second child was 18 months old and my first visit to the GP I was told, “I was a

"This disease doesn't discriminate whether you are young or old...There's always hope. Remember, every storm eventually runs out of rain."

"Santa brought me cancer for Christmas".

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

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

I was diagnosed at the age of 33. I still remember the conversation with the specialist, my husband Josh and

A couple of thousand dollars cost to personally fund a colonoscopy is a small price to pay for an early

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

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

"At 24 weeks pregnant I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer..."

Bowel cancer never occurred to me even once in that time, I was only 34 and with no risk factors.

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

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

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

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

To put it into perspective, a month after visiting my G.P, I was being discharged from hospital. Read more of

I’m getting back to feeling full of life after radiation, chemo & losing 60cm of my plumbing... your bum is

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

“It was just absolutely devastating... It was just, ‘How can this be possible?’ I felt like the world had tipped

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

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

"What is harder than cancer? Having to tell your loved ones that you have cancer..."

I was 34 with two very young daughters when I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer, after intense stomach

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

"I wanted to help, not only for Mum but for everyone else affected. I’m moving my butt for everyone who

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

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

My name is Anita, I’m 38 and I have survived cancer twice. My story with bowel cancer started when my

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

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

"I had no symptoms...How could this be so? I was carrying these nasty passengers without any awareness of illness"

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

"I'm telling my story to help others, and to encourage anyone who has the opportunity to get screened."

“If it wasn’t for BCNZ I wouldn’t be here – simple as that.”

"I am on the Facebook Bowel Cancer NZ Patient and Whanau Support Group which has been an excellent source of

I had noticed blood in my stool and went to doctor who referred me for colonoscopy, I had cancer, it

"I was 52 when I randomly had a lot of blood when I went to the toilet. I felt otherwise

After 10 years of trying to get a diagnosis, Sara was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in Dec 2022

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

"I went for a colonoscopy on 1st march. The specialists words - 'I'm sorry Donna, you have cancer'. I was

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

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

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

"Yes, my life changed... but there’s always golden moments. We bought a campervan and enjoy that and every day I

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

"Being her eldest child, I struggled to see mum go through this and felt helpless due to not being able

Bike To Fight. He is not only my dad he is also my best mate.

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

My husband Willy, 35-years young, was the most genuine man you could ever meet, a real family man and friend

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

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

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

Ryan was only 22 when he was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer, being told “you are far too young”.

"As a family we could not be more proud of the woman she was and the fight she put up

"There are so many things I wish I had done differently, but it was very challenging being the primary caregiver,

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

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

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

A couple of thousand dollars cost to personally fund a colonoscopy is a small price to pay for an early

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

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

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

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

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

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

“If it wasn’t for BCNZ I wouldn’t be here – simple as that.”

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