Monique M’s story

I’m a 38-year-old mum of three, and in October 2024, my life changed in a way I never saw coming.

We had just sold our house, bought a caravan, and planned a year-long adventure around Australia with our kids. But then I noticed blood in my stool. It lasted a few weeks, so I saw my GP. He was amazing — ran tests, and even though everything came back clear, he still encouraged me to get a colonoscopy. Public wait times were 12 months, so I followed my gut and paid privately.

That decision saved my life.

After the colonoscopy, I heard the words no one expects at 38: ‘You have bowel cancer.’

Since then, I’ve been through six rounds of chemo, major bowel surgery, eight days in hospital, a stoma and now I’m back doing more chemo before another surgery. It’s been hard — especially being away from my husband and kids — but I’d do it all again to be here for them.

Please, don’t ignore the signs. Bowel cancer doesn’t care about age. You’re never too young. If something feels off, push for answers. Go with your gut — it might just save your life.

🙏 And to my medical team — thank you. I couldn’t have done this without you.

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My one piece of advice:

Please, don’t ignore the signs. Bowel cancer doesn’t care about age. You’re never too young. If something feels off, push for answers. Go with your gut — it might just save you

2026 Update:

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, and this is my story. 💚❤️

At 38 years old, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

The only symptom that made me book a colonoscopy was blood in my stool. That colonoscopy saved my life.

Looking back, there were other signs. I was constantly bloated, tired all the time, and my bowel habits had changed. But like many women, I convinced myself that being bloated was just ‘normal’ and that something I ate probably wasn’t agreeing with me. I didn’t think much of it.
I wish I had.

What followed was 18 months that changed my life and the lives of the people I love most.
I went through 6 months of chemotherapy, 3 surgeries, an ileostomy bag, a reversal, countless appointments, scans, and hospital stays.

Cancer didn’t just happen to me. It happened to my whole family.

My three kids watched their mum become someone who was often tired, sick, in hospital, or recovering. They missed out on parts of me that I desperately wanted to give them. My husband carried more than anyone should have to carry. Cancer affects every person in a family, not just the one with the diagnosis.

Today, I’m incredibly grateful to say I’m NED (No Evidence of Disease).

Those three words are the best news I could ever hope for. But there’s something people don’t talk about enough.

People often think that once treatment finishes and the cancer is gone, the story is over. The reality is that for many bowel cancer survivors, that’s when a different chapter begins.

What people don’t see is the all the toilet trips some days. The planning that goes into every outing. Knowing where every public bathroom is before you leave the house. That gastro stop is your new best friend. The foods you can no longer eat. The fatigue that still appears out of nowhere. The scars that tell a story. The anxiety before every scan.

And then there’s the mental load. Every ache, every unusual symptom, every day you’re more tired than normal can trigger the same thought – ‘What if it’s back?’.

That’s the part nobody prepares you for.

Don’t get me wrong I’m grateful beyond words. I am happy. I am lucky to be alive. But I’ve learned that gratitude and fear can exist at the same time.

You can be cancer free and still be healing.

You can be thankful and still be sad.

You can celebrate being NED while still carrying anxiety about the future. Both feelings are valid.
I wanted to share my story not for sympathy, but for awareness.

If you notice blood in your stool, changes in your bowel habits, unexplained bloating, fatigue, or if something simply doesn’t feel right, please don’t ignore it. Get checked.

And if you’re living through the aftermath of bowel cancer, I want you to know you’re not alone.

Also, if you’re now the person who automatically knows the location of every toilet within a 10km radius…welcome to the club. It’s not one any of us asked to join, but the membership is surprisingly large.

Early detection saves lives. A colonoscopy saved mine. ❤️

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My one piece of advice:

The biggest lesson bowel cancer taught me is that our health is never something to take for granted. Don’t ignore what your body is trying to tell you. A simple test or colonoscopy might feel scary, but it could save your life. Early detection gave me a chance to watch my children grow up, and that’s something I’ll always be grateful for.