Natasha L’s story

I started having fluctuating diarrhoea and constipation, sometimes not going for up to five days. I had blood at times and the doctors said it was from hemmorroids and not to worry. My stool then changed shape, again I was told no that’s nothing to worry about. It wasn’t until I presented to emergency department that I was taken somewhat seriously, the doctor there still said I was too young and that it would most likely just be hemmorhoids. He did red flag it though and I was in within two weeks having a colonoscopy where my cancer was diagnosed.

A week later on December 20 2022 I underwent a lower anterior bowel resection. I was so very lucky there was no spread at all, it was just in the one spot in the bowel. I am now under 3 monthly surveillance and learning through trial and error what foods my body will tolerate and what it won’t.

One piece of advice for others:

Listen to patients. No one knows your body like you do and you should be trusted not told you’re too young or it’s something else. No one should be telling you it’s hemorrhoids without proper diagnosis first