Fiona’s story

My journey started with a positive bowel screening test in May 2023 which followed with multiple colonoscopies and finally a surgery in August 2023 to remove a rectal tumour.

I was told it was high grade dysplasia (just before cancer) but they also found a tiny spec of cancer but there was no diagnosis of cancer, so I felt very lucky.

Fast forward to a year later and I was living my dream travelling Italy and France with my sister and came home energised to get back to work.

On 10 Sept 2024 the pain started in my lower pelvis and radiated to my back. This pain kept me up at night and would continue during the day. There were times it was milder, and I’d even have days without it.

Then began the tests and constant visits to the GP which included a misdiagnosis of a parasite, and one GP thought I had IBS and it was in my mind.

I also had a hospital visit where they didn’t find anything and referred me back to my gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy and gastroscopy which found a couple of stomach ulcers and inflammation of intestine so then they focused on this being the cause of pain.

However, the pain kept getting worse and was completely impacting my life. The doctors started to give up and it felt like they thought it was all in my head when I knew something was seriously wrong.

Finally, I pushed for more blood tests which came back with a few abnormal results including a increase in cancer markers so my gastroenterologist sent me for a PET scan (saying it was overkill).

The scan highlighted three enlarged lymph node areas in my rectum, so my case was reviewed by a panel of specialists where they concluded there was as a connection to the rectum tumour they removed in 2023 and maybe there was a spread! How did they not connect the dots earlier!!

Very quickly I was referred to a colorectal surgeon and had surgery to remove a biopsy.

On 2 December 2024 it was confirmed I have Stage 3 bowel cancer and the journey ahead would be chemotherapy, radiotherapy and then two surgeries.

I’ve learn so much over the last 3 months as I’ve battled through chemotherapy and when I’m better I’d like to share back all my tips through a podcast or video to help others facing it.

As I look back on my diagnosis, I still can’t help but think how lucky I am that my body kept telling me something was wrong, and I listened.

My heart goes out to all of you battling along with me as it’s not easy but there are silver linings along the way, you just have to look for them.

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My one piece of advice:

Listen to your body, be kind to yourself and rest, and look for the glimmers along the way even if they as small.