Sima Davarian, Plymouth

I was 34 when I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in September 2015.

Before my diagnosis, I was pregnant and hadn’t really had any symptoms, but the main reason I went to my GP was a one-off instance of bleeding from my bottom. It is hard to know if I was having any other symptoms at the time because of my pregnancy and the changes that were taking place because of that.

At the doctors, my GP listened to me very carefully and asked me about the bleeding. Despite being pregnant and the fact she could have put it down to haemorrhoids, she asked me questions before examining me. She took it very seriously but didn’t make me feel alarmed. It was an uncomfortable experience and she didn’t seem satisfied with it. She said the best thing to do was to refer me to the hospital because ‘they had more sophisticated equipment’ and she wasn’t certain of what it was.

I was then referred by my GP on a two week referral and I saw a consultant who took a biopsy at an outpatient’s appointment. Eleven days later I returned and was diagnosed. I was 35 weeks pregnant.

It was then decided I would give birth by caesarean section five days later to avoid things becoming mixed up in a vaginal delivery. At this point the consultant told me that I would require major surgery, but it wasn’t until I had a CT scan (a CT colonography) and an MRI scan two weeks after giving birth that I knew the extent of the cancer and the treatment plan.

Thankfully I had one tumour that hadn’t spread. But due to its position I was told I would need a procedure to remove it and that a permanent colostomy was necessary. I was given the choice of pelvic radiotherapy, which I eventually took, despite the devastating side effects of the menopause and subsequent infertility.

I had a short course of radiotherapy and an abdominal perineal resection six weeks post birth. This was followed by chemotherapy as my staging was T3 N2 M0.I struggled with low immunity in the year following the end of my chemotherapy treatment, as well as coping with a new stoma and the side effects of radiotherapy. The cancer did not spread but some cells were present in 4/16 lymph nodes involved in the resected area.

I experienced the most joyful time of my life alongside the most terrible. If it weren’t for my beautiful daughter and the support of my family I don’t know how I would have got through the ordeal.

In the time since my diagnosis and treatment there have been different milestones along the way and the recovery process has been long and slow - but I have made a good recovery and I my new ‘engineering’ and treatment haven’t stopped me from doing anything that I did before.

Although I was cancer-free relatively quickly, I didn’t appreciate that other side effects from treatment were quite normal and I felt quite disheartened at times, for example the early menopause meant I need some access to a consultant gynaecologist to get advice about HRT and other symptoms.

I returned to work 22 months after my diagnosis and it was inevitably emotional and difficult, for many reasons. The last time I had been at work I wasn’t a mother, for a start! Other personal achievements post-treatment have been moments where I’ve really taken pride in what I’ve done.

The whole experience has left me surprised with what I have endured and the strength I have been capable of. I consider myself incredibly blessed and lucky to be here.

But we’re leading change

Never Too Young is leading change for younger bowel cancer patients. Every year 2,500 younger people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK. Our research has shown that younger bowel cancer patients have a very different experience of diagnosis, treatment and care.

What are we calling for?

• Improved clinical guidance and practice on bowel cancer in younger people
• Improved identification of people with genetic conditions and access to surveillance screening
• Improved information for younger people on bowel cancer symptoms

Together we can STOP bowel cancer