Sasha’s story

After losing my dad to Stage 4 bowel cancer in Sep 2012 I was hyper vigilant with my own body, making sure to do a bowel cancer screening test every year.

When I started experiencing random stomach cramps, along with unexplained anaemia, I spoke with my GP and was brushed off as ‘too young for a colonoscopy’.

Over a period of 2 years, I saw my GP on and off and was consistently sent away with brochures regarding perimenopause or brushed off all together. After having lost 7 kg over a 12-month period though, I knew there was more to it.

Thankfully COVID hit and we were all sent home to work from home on reduced hours, which gave me the guilt free time to invest in my health.

I walked to the local pharmacy to pick up a kit and when I spoke with the Pharmacist about my symptoms, and my family history, he advised that he’d rather I get a referral for a colonoscopy than sell me another screening kit.

I called my GP from the car park and demanded a referral.

A week later I saw the gastroenterologist who again advised ‘I really don’t think you need this, but I’ll put you on the waiting list’.

I asked if I could get in earlier if I paid, which I did, and a week after that I was waking in recovery to be told ‘I’m really sorry but I found cancer’.

A right hemicolectomy followed my Stage 3 diagnosis and as they found spread to the lymph nodes, a series of four chemo rounds followed that.

Had I have been taken seriously in the beginning and not been brushed off as ‘women’s problems’ or ‘too young’ then I may very well have avoided surgery, chemo and all of the physical and emotional scars that came with it.

Not only to me but also my young daughters and my family who had already been through the pain of losing my dad.

My one piece of advice:

Never allow yourself to be brushed off. You know your own body and push hard to be heard. Get a second or third opinion if you must!

I absolutely knew something wasn’t right and yet the apathy and the lack of attention to detail that came from the GP was atrocious. She very nearly cost me my life!