I was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 22.

At the beginning of 2024 I started experiencing abdominal cramping. It would come and go and didn’t really hang around. As I female I think it’s really easy to put it down to your menstrual cycle or simply that you ate something that didn’t agree with your body.

Leading up to my diagnosis in August, the cramping became more intense and didn’t go away. I contacted my gastroenterologist, and he booked me in for a colonoscopy the following week. I was so lucky, I got in so fast. I remember being on the phone to him saying that I think I have bowel cancer, and he continued to tell me that I was too young to have cancer and it wasn’t possible. Unfortunately, my gut instinct was correct.

In September, I had surgery, where my surgeon performed a total colectomy, which resulted in a temporary ileostomy. Unfortunately, the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes, and I had to complete 8 rounds of chemotherapy over the last 6 months.

I was so fortunate to have had the most amazing team, who have not only been my doctors but also some of my biggest supporters. Having people who cared and understood me and went above and beyond for me is something I’ll forever be grateful for.

Bowel cancer isn’t an old person’s disease. Cancer does not care how old you are, and I hope one day we can live in a society where people are given the free stool kit for any gastrointestinal issues and not just people above the age of 45.

I really want to share my story not only to raise awareness, but to encourage young people to advocate for themselves and to push for answers. We really do know our bodies better than anyone else.

Cancer is tough, but we are so much tougher than we think we are. This journey has taught me so much, and I’m so grateful for that. I think it’s a reminder to always be a good person, because you truly never know what anyone is going through. By looking at me you would have no idea. To be alive is a gift, and we are all so lucky to be here.