Despina M’s story

My Story

I don’t really know where to begin.

I’ve always been a real go-getter — someone who keeps moving, keeps working, keeps pushing ahead. So, when my journey with bowel cancer began, it shocked not only me, but everyone who knows me.

About a year ago, my iron levels suddenly dropped to almost nothing. I was told I simply needed an iron infusion — nothing serious, just come in, pay around $150, and that would be that. At the time, it seemed like a small bump in the road.

Not long after, I started feeling a sharp pain on my left side. I went to Emergency, had blood tests done, and was told everything looked normal. The doctor said it was likely just a pulled muscle from gardening. So, I accepted that and kept going, the way I always do.

A year later, another doctor urged me to get a colonoscopy. I remember thinking, really? Do I need this? My usual doctor had told me that the small amount of bleeding I’d mentioned could be a tear or just haemorrhoids. And honestly, I didn’t want to take time off work — I never felt like I could.

But that doctor ended up saving my life.

I finally booked the colonoscopy, and afterwards a very caring doctor sat with me and said he was 96% sure I had bowel cancer. A surgeon came to see me soon after and confirmed that it likely was cancer, but because the tumour was high up in the sigmoid area, they needed a PET scan to get a clearer picture. They organised the scan for the next day.

On 17 July 2025, I had surgery. The diagnosis: Stage 3B bowel cancer.

It was shocking — life-changing — and still surreal to think about.

Eight weeks later, I started chemotherapy. And today, 17 November 2025, I’m up to chemo round number seven.

What’s Kept Me Going

My gardens have been my sanctuary. From the day I returned home after surgery, I wandered through my yard every single morning — touching the leaves, breathing in the air, grounding myself. It became part of my healing.

My three beautiful American Staffies — Daisy, Scud, and Indy — are my constant support. They’re all emotional support dogs, and they know exactly when I’m feeling low. They watch me day and night, never leaving my side. Indy is living with my husband in the Illawarra, while I’m living on my own during treatment.

I have no immediate family in Australia at all, which has made this journey even more isolating at times. A few close friends support me, but they live far away — so most days, it’s just me.
I cook for myself, clean my home myself, and walk to and from chemo on my own — thankfully it’s not far.

My husband comes every fortnight to help with things around the house, and he has been amazing throughout all of this.

What I’ve Learned

This journey has taught me something I should have realised long ago: I come first — not work.

For years, I put work above my health. I ignored signs, symptoms, and stress because I thought nothing mattered more than doing my job well. But now I know better. My health, my life, my peace — they come first.

So that’s my story so far.

There is more to tell — but that will be in Part 2.

My one piece of advice:

Ask your doctor, sorry demand a PET scan. Don’t let what happened to me, happen to you – being told go home, it’s just a muscle bruise. And don’t just buy iron tablets if you have gone or are going through menopause. If you haven’t done one, no matter the age, demand a colonoscopy.

It could save your life!