Jessica Louise

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My Bowel Cancer story spans almost 10 years.

I also watched my sister-in-law fight metastatic bowel cancer, passing when she was just 32 years old. Her diagnosis is what led me to my colonoscopy in 2012 and my subsequent diagnosis with early-stage bowel (rectal) cancer at just 29 years old.

I had been experiencing rectal bleeding, off and on for a few months, but my first visit to a local GP led to me being dismissed, told it was just ‘traveller’s diarrhoea’ after we discussed the large bleed I had whilst on holidays in Europe.

This left me feeling that I was wasting the GP’s time and being concerned about nothing. I pushed back my feelings of unease and continued about my life. The bleeding continued off and on for the next 12 months. I finally brought the issue up with my regular GP and she agreed to send me for a colonoscopy, more just to allay my fears.

The colonoscopy revealed an early-stage cancer that was surgically removed in May 2013. I was regularly followed up with no signs of recurrence. My treatment had been successful.

Unfortunately, in December 2020, following some unexpected bleeding and back pain, I was again diagnosed with rectal cancer. I was 37 years old, a mum to a 6 year old, diagnosed with advanced cancer - it had spread to my adrenal gland and lymph nodes. Over the course of 2021 I under went 3 major surgeries, 6 weeks of radiation and 12 cycles of chemotherapy. I spent over 40 days in hospital, mostly alone due to COVID-19 restrictions.

I am currently in remission and have everything crossed that this will stay the case.

Despite what I have endured, I consider myself one of the lucky ones – I had the opportunity to get to the point of remission. Many others, including my sister-in-law, never get this chance. Her cancer was found too late, despite her constant symptoms and repeated GP visits.

1 in 10 new bowel cancer cases in Australia are now diagnosed in people under age 50. We are often diagnosed at later stages as there is no screening for under 50’s and many health professionals still see bowel cancer as a disease that affects older individuals.

Patients have to push for a diagnosis. It’s not uncommon to hear that it has taken over 12 months from first experiencing symptoms to the actual diagnosis. This can be the difference between a curable cancer and an incurable one.

This is why I am asking for your help in addressing the gap in care for Young-onset bowel cancer patients.

We need greater awareness among the community and health professionals, focusing on the fact that bowel cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the 25–44 year old age bracket.

We need to lower the screen age. The US have recently lowered the recommended age to 45, but Australia could do even more and lower this to 40.

We need prompt GP referrals for colonoscopies, regardless of age, for individuals that present with bowel cancer symptoms. This includes improved pathways that ensure timely triage, diagnosis and treatment for younger patients.

We need better understanding for the challenges faced by young-onset bowel cancer patients, particular around fertility preservation and the psychological impacts of the disease.

And lastly, we need further research into the causes of young-onset bowel cancer, so we can try and prevent it and to help build a path toward a cure.

Thanks for supporting our efforts in raising money for this cause!