Stage 3 bowel cancer diagnosis at 33 years of age

At the age of 33 I was diagnosed with Stage 3 bowel cancer, a diagnosis that literally never crossed my mind. Bowel cancer will effect 15,000 people per year in Australia, including ~1000 people under the age of 50. Due to my age, gender and pre-conceived ideas about bowel cancer patients, my diagnosis was not a simple process and required multiple GP/hospital visits where I presented with severe abdominal pain, uncontrollable vomiting and weigh-loss. I was asked by one particular ER Dr "are you sure it's not just period pain?", "You COULD stay for tests, but its going to be a very long and boring day and you'd be much more comfortable at home" and told "let me tell you why it's not gut related". I was sent home multiple times with no answers and labelled by the same ER Dr. as "depressed" and "has google". I very quickly realised I had to become my own strongest advocate and fought for follow up tests, which included a CT, a laparoscopy and finally a colonoscopy that didn't come with an 8-10 week waitlist.

Finally after weeks in and out of hospital my worst fears were realised. The colonoscopy and subsequent right hemicolectomy confirmed a tumour that was almost blocking my large intestine and had metastasized to the surrounding lymph nodes. I recovered from surgery, celebrated Christmas with my family, and then returned to start 3 months of chemotherapy. I later found out a simple blood test, taken after my diagnosis, would have given me my diagnosis without the need for all the trauma I faced within a hospital system that labelled me from the very beginning.

My story had a relatively positive outcome and I am now in surveillance-mode, however there are countless stories of more and more young people being diagnosed with late stage colorectal cancer who were not so lucky. The system needs improved, non-invasive interventions and diagnostic tools, such as blood-tests upon first admission, so that people like myself don't get "lost in the system" where preconceived ideas and long wait lists block patient care.