Kate’s story

Months of knowing something was wrong. Numerous doctors’ visits, to just be told I have gastro due to being a primary school teacher. Months later, a locum was filling in and he gave me a referral to a gastroenterologist.

Stage 3 rectal cancer. I was 36 years old. Married, with two children, 14 and 11. It’s the last thing I was expecting. I was young and healthy. I’ve always eaten well, exercised and maintained a healthy weight. Occasional drinker. Never smoked. I did not have the lifestyle factors associated with bowel cancer.

The diagnosis hit my family hard as my Pa died of bowel cancer just before my 11th birthday and my Nanna survived Stage 2 rectal cancer in her 70s.

This diagnosis was lifechanging. It made me reassess what was important and what matters, as well as come to the reality that I will not live forever and the end could be nearer than I thought.

Chemotherapy was brutal, I won’t lie or sugar coat it. But being who I am, whenever anyone asked I would say ‘I’m going well’, and ‘I’m okay’; put a smile on my face and make a joke. Coping mechanisms.

The message I spread now is that you are never too young for bowel cancer, it doesn’t just affect the elderly. Young people are being diagnosed more regularly, and women are no less likely to have it.

I have connected with many brave, strong, kick-ass women along my journey, and now I’m on the other side of mine, they continue to inspire me to live life and be happy every day. You never know what’s around the corner.

My one piece of advice:

Enjoy each and every day, tell those around you that you love them, you’re stronger than you’ll ever know, and you never know what’s around the corner, live life to the fullest.

Previously:

It was 2019 and I was 36, with two children. Married and working full time. Healthy and active.
I had months of blood and mucus in my stool, skinny frequent bowel movements and repeated doctors’ appointments to only be told “it’s gastro” or “haemorrhoids” because I’m a primary school teacher and the blood was bright red. I was constantly tired, and they put this down to low b12 levels.

Even though I kept being told the same thing, I kept going back. The last time a replacement doctor was in, and he listened, looked through my history and said something’s not right. I’d like you to see a gastroenterologist and he gave me a referral. I was repeatedly asked about bowel cancer in my family and always said yes – my maternal grandfather and grandmother both had it. Because they were over 60 at diagnosis it was classed as irrelevant.

I got a call to book with the gastroenterologist and as I’m regional they asked if I’d like a telehealth with the doctor in a week and a half or wait until the next month for him to visit. I took the telehealth.

During the consult he decided he wanted me in for a colonoscopy asap. He had a cancellation the following week at a private clinic 4 hours from where I live. At the push of my husband, I took the appointment.

Oct 2019 – As I was coming out of anaesthesia the doctor tells me, “The first thing we found when we went in was a tumour. We have taken a biopsy to send off, but I would say it’s cancerous”. I called my husband and told him, he came, and we waited. The gastroenterologist made calls to get me in to see a top colorectal surgeon the following day while I was in the city.

The next day I find out I’ve got rectal cancer. More strings pulled and favours called in to get me in for CT scans and an MRI the next day.

Staging from the scans suggested stage of 2 – grown into the muscle but not through. I was in a dazed fog, how quickly my life had changed.

Surgery 5 weeks after the colonoscopy. Nov 2019 – ULAR with ileostomy. From healthy and active to lethargic, in pain and pooing into a bag. A lor of adjustments to make and a lot of crying and frustrations to follow.

During my 13-day hospital stay I found out it had invaded my lymph nodes, stage 3, with 9 out of 27 lymph nodes being affected.

Next step 6 months of chemotherapy. It was challenging and gruelling. I had support from my husband, children, and in-laws. So thankful. Halfway through my chemotherapy treatment -pandemic. I’m back to being on my own in the chemo chair being pumped full of poison. Not easy.

May 2020, I had my last chemo tablet! June 2020, I had my stoma reversed.

Regular scans and bloods, with them all coming back clear for 3 years. Scanxiety still kicks in though.

My advice is don’t give up if something doesn’t fell right. Push for answers. Know your body.

You are never too young for bowel cancer.