Rebecca N’s story

I’ve never really thought of myself as a ‘lucky’ person… but statistically, being 1 in 1,000 should make you lucky, right? That’s 0.1%, an incredibly small chance.

Three weeks ago, I found out that I’m the 1 in 1,000 diagnosed with early-onset colorectal cancer. And one week ago, I had an extended right hemicolectomy to remove 30cm of my bowel. I’m now home, sore, recovering, and still trying to process it all.

And today, I can thankfully say: it was stage IIA, and no further treatment is needed right now. I am cancer-free. I am extremely, unbelievably lucky.

And ironically… endometriosis saved my life.

If I’d had that colonoscopy two years ago, when my symptoms were brushed off as hormonal or diet-related, it might have been caught as a precancerous polyp or stage 1. But if I’d waited another two years? My reality would likely be very, very different.

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So, here’s how I got here:

Two years ago. I had one random episode of bleeding. I went straight to emergency. CT was clear, bloods were fine, I was told to come back only if it happened again.

Over time I got some mild gastro symptoms, nothing dramatic. My faecal calprotectin was 55 (cutoff is 50), then 80 (still “not concerning”). I was told it was probably food-related or tied to my hormones. No one was worried. My GP and gastro didn’t think a colonoscopy was required

We chased answers for endometriosis. A deep infiltrating scan suggested adenomyosis. An endo specialist repeated it and confirmed endometriosis, but she didn’t like that one episode of bleeding two years earlier. Something about it bothered her.

She sent me to a colorectal surgeon she trusted. He didn’t think anything sounded particularly alarming either, but suggested we do a colonoscopy “just to rule everything out.” I remember being scared when he said there’s a 1 in 1,000 chance of bowel cancer and I’d like to rule that out so you know it’s “just” endo.

I went in for what was supposed to be a 3-4 hour endometriosis excision plus scopes.

I woke up one hour later.

I knew instantly something was wrong.

Both surgeons came in. They told me they couldn’t proceed with the endo surgery. They found multiple polyps… and bowel cancer.

I was alone. I was hysterical. I was terrified. I don’t want to die; I have two young daughters. Everything changed that day.

And I had none of the classic symptoms.

My weight was stable. No bloating. No masses. No ongoing bleeding. Nothing dramatic. Just the usual cycle pain. I eat well, exercise, don’t smoke, barely drink, and do all the right things.

None of that mattered.

But what did matter was that I didn’t give up. Something in me, probably anxiety, honestly, kept pushing. I kept asking questions, following up, requesting scans, seeking second opinions. And for once, that anxiety saved me too.

I can’t thank my current GP, endometriosis specialist and colorectal surgeon enough, they didn’t dismiss me, I actually thought they were being a bit dramatic, but they weren’t.

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My one piece of advice:

So here’s my one piece of advice, and I will scream it for the rest of my life:

Any bleeding — get the colonoscopy. Pay for it. Demand it. Don’t take no for an answer.

Any gastro symptoms with endometriosis — get the colonoscopy.

If you have a family history — get the colonoscopy.

35 isn’t too young. 25 isn’t too young. I’ve probably had these polyps for 10–15 years.

Just get the colonoscopy.

Because sometimes, being unlucky… is exactly what saves your life.