At the age of 26, I was diagnosed with a stage 2 level cancerous growth that was 4cm in radius. It was found in my large intestine. 

At 41yrs old, December 2018 was drawing to a close.

On the 17th December 2018, it was like any other busy day.

In September 2017, I was woken in the middle of the night with intense, burning abdominal cramps. My immediate concern was for my baby.

I was 34 years old and 15 weeks pregnant with my second child. I knew what labour pains were like, but this was different -  high up in my stomach radiating out and down. 

In November 2018, a month and a half after my 41^st birthday, I was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. It had come months after stomach pains, needing to go to the toilet constantly but never really passing much and suddenly not being able to drink alcohol and eat certain foods without it ending in stomach cramps and hours on the toilet. 

At 43 years of age, I was a busy mother of four boys and an elected Member in the Victorian Parliament when I was diagnosed with bowel cancer.