Chloe G’s story

At the age of 33 years old in March 2020 my world came crashing down. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer which had spread to my lungs.

I first noticed bleeding in my stool a few months earlier but hadn’t had time to get to the GP. When I did raise it with my GP I was advised it was most likely some tearing and given a cream to try, and then told to come back within three weeks if the bleeding had not gone away. Meanwhile in this time I had an appointment with my gynaecologist regarding my endometriosis, I mentioned the bleeding again and an internal examination was done. This is when the tumour was found.

From there everything happened very quickly. I was referred to a specialist who did a colonoscopy and our worst fears were confirmed.

Within these first few weeks, my life as I knew it was turned upside down. I went on extended sick leave from my job, I moved back home to my parents’ house so I could have someone to care for me and treatment begun.

I had 25 rounds of radiation therapy, which of course meant that from now on my fertility would be affected. As a 33-year-old single woman with no children, this is still something I am coming to terms with. Luckily due to my endometriosis I had already frozen my eggs when I was 29.

Treatment then continued with three rounds of chemotherapy, followed by an anterior resection operation. Once I recovered from that I then continued with chemotherapy for another nine rounds.

Unfortunately, the treatment I had did not completely eliminate the cancer in my lungs and I have since spent the last three years on two different clinical trials and undergoing radiation and surgeries.

I am currently back on chemotherapy as the cancer is still progressing. My oncologist is hoping another clinical trial that’s suitable for me will come up soon. From past experiences I have tolerated clinical trials better than chemotherapy and have had some success.

It’s been a crazy ride so far but one thing I am grateful for is my family and friends and the lessons I have learnt along the way. I never knew how strong I was and I’m so proud of myself!

As a Stage 4 patient who had minimal symptoms, I am so passionate about raising awareness and funding for Bowel Cancer Australia and for early-onset research into current and future treatments.

It is important that we have access to the most current treatments options and that we are able to put resources into discovering new treatments and ways to look at the disease.