Emma B’s story

My family and I live on Kangaroo Island in South Australia, where I am a full-time teacher. Last year, I experienced strange pain on my left side, which persisted for months.

I was referred for numerous scans and to a rheumatologist. Nothing produced any answers, and I was just about ready to give up, when I experienced bleeding. Our locum doctor was wonderful and referred me for a colonoscopy and recommended a faecal calprotectin test.

The results of that test showed I had high levels of inflammation and ensured I was moved up the otherwise lengthy waiting list for the colonoscopy, which fortunately I was able to have on the island.

I went into the procedure expecting more questions than answers, or perhaps IBD. To my absolute shock, I woke up to the news that I would need surgery on the mainland as I had a ‘large mass that was likely cancerous and to expect a temporary colostomy bag and chemotherapy.’ I was distraught – how had this happened and how had it gone undetected for so long?

I had surgery three weeks later and thankfully avoided needing a colostomy bag. The surgeon described my tumour as ‘the size of a tennis ball’ and pathology later showed that it had spread to my lymph nodes, so I started chemotherapy six weeks after the surgery.

I turned 43 during my first cycle of chemotherapy. Before I was diagnosed, I was aware from news articles that bowel cancer is on the rise in young people, but it was only after my diagnosis that I learned that people under 45 can purchase screening kits online. Since then, I have been sharing that message with everyone I know – we know all too well that the earlier this sneaky, insidious disease can be detected, the better.

I hopefully have only one more cycle of chemotherapy to go – it has been a really challenging time, feeling so weak and flat with the awful side effects, but I will be forever grateful to my beautiful family, friends, community and the amazing surgeons, oncologists and nurses who have cared for me and my family and lifted my spirits on the darker days.

From the beginning, my surgeons both emphasised the need to stay positive and to ‘expect the worst but hope for the best’. I’ve been determined to follow their advice to help me brace myself for results, and to remain focused on gratitude. I will always be grateful that I followed my gut (pun intended) when I knew something was wrong, that it was detected at Stage 3 and not later, and that we have such exceptional care and support in Australia. The resources provided by Bowel Cancer Australia have been invaluable in learning to understand the disease, treatment and in advocating for greater awareness about the need for early screening.

My one piece of advice:

Trust your instincts. You know your body best – don’t feel like a hypochondriac, because the initial symptoms of bowel cancer can be so mild and easy to dismiss.

If you do face this disease, know that there is amazing support out there. The nurses are absolute angels and will always help you.