Taylor June Appeal
 
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It’s been over three years since I was diagnosed with Stage 4c bowel cancer.
 
In that time, I’ve had two operations, 11 rounds of FOLFOX chemotherapy, one very scary hospitalisation for neutropenic sepsis and encephalitis, and 24 rounds of immunotherapy.
 
Unfortunately, the traditional treatment of surgery and chemo didn’t work for me because of several germline (genetic) and somatic (tumour) mutations.
 
After six months of treatment, my cancer spread from my bowel to my liver, pancreas, abdominal wall lining, chest, throat, lungs and a lot of lymph nodes.

Things looked very bad for a few months and I was faced with the real possibility of dying.
 
Luckily, two of those pesky mutations made me eligible for an immunotherapy trial. Even better, I was accepted onto the
trial after a very nervous six-week wait and lots of tests.
 
After just eight months on the trial, my disease was classed as stable!
 
My oncologist and my family were overjoyed. We thought it was the best news we could hope for. But then, my tumours and nodes just kept shrinking!
 
In May 2022, after 20 rounds and 20 months of immunotherapy, my oncologist gave me the amazing news that I’d had a complete metabolic response to the treatment.
 
I had no evidence of disease (otherwise known as ‘NED’)!
 
I finished the immunotherapy trial in August 2022 on the day before my 30th birthday, after two years and 24 rounds.
 
It was a very emotional day for everyone, especially my care team because we never thought I would make it that far.
 
Having access to an immunotherapy clinical trial LITERALLY saved my life.
 
After traditional treatment failed, I was told my only options were to start palliative chemo or try and find a suitable trial – if one even existed. I can say with confidence that if it wasn’t for my oncologist and this trial, I wouldn’t have lived to see Christmas 2020.
 
The trial also allowed me to begin improving my physical health, as immunotherapy is not as harsh on the body as chemo.
 
I regained weight and muscle and felt healthier overall, which is important when you’re having long-term cancer treatment.
 
I’ve also achieved a few ‘life’ milestones too. My husband and I bought a house, I’ve returned to work – casually, for now – and we’re about to go on our first big post-covid, post-cancer holiday.

As for the cancer side of things, I’m now on a ‘watch and wait’ program, where I have cancer-monitoring bloods taken and a CT scan done every three months.
 
My latest milestone was in February 2023 when I achieved nine months NED.

I still have a long way to go, but I’m over the moon with my progress so far and am very much looking forward to the future.
 
Critical research is vital to ensure others like myself have improved outcomes and can see a life without bowel cancer.
 
Bowel Cancer Australia needs your support this June to fund promising, high-impact, early-onset bowel cancer research endeavours to improve our knowledge and understanding of this disease and save lives.

Together, with your help, we can build a path toward a cure.
 
 
Please donate this June.
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Learn more about how, with your support, Bowel Cancer Australia is making an impact.

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Proudly 100% community funded, Bowel Cancer Australia relies solely on donations and bequests.
 
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Bowel Cancer Australia this June. Without your help, our work would simply not be possible.
 

Ways your donation can help us build a path towards a cure