Cassandra’s story in memory of her husband

My husband Simon (42yo) was diagnosed in March 2023 with Stage 4 bowel cancer with metastases to his liver, peritoneal lining and pelvis.

His symptoms were quite vague apart from ongoing pain in his lower abdomen, back pain which we thought was due to wicket keeping at cricket every weekend and some bowel habit changes which he brushed off having had weight loss surgery previously and always having had some degree of stool changes since that surgery.

Following genetic testing we found out he had the BRAF V600e mutation which meant his diagnosis was a terminal one.

But Simon was the most positive guy you’ve ever met and despite having to learn to live with a colostomy and having fortnightly chemo he got on with living life with cancer, determined to enjoy the time he had (we were told 2-5 years).

He continued to work, we purchased our forever home and set to making memories for our then 6, 3 and 1 year old boys. His PET scans and bloods were looking positive at the end of July and we were feeling good.

Unfortunately due to complications and chemo delays Simon went in to hospital September 18th 2023 and didn’t come home. He died on October 12, 2023, just 6 months following diagnosis.

My one piece of advice:
I wish I had of known bowel cancer is a young person’s disease now. Simon had no family history so it never even crossed my mind that his vague symptoms would add up to a Stage 4 diagnosis.

I wish I had of known that early diagnosis leads to better outcomes and that a stool test you do at home can save your life! It’s worth spending the $45 if you’re under 45yo to do one each year to catch any changes. I’ll do one every year for the rest of my life and encourage our boys to do the same as they get older.