Meet the Never Too Young project group

Cara

"Here's a fact: I'm one of the many faces of bowel cancer. I was 32 when I was diagnosed, and my cancer had developed as a direct result of a genetic mutation. Life had changed in a moment and it was overwhelming. I had a lot of questions: about chemo, about surgery, about my future risk but it didn't end there. I had questions that went beyond the medicine because let's face it a life with cancer is still a life. Could I work? Relationships? What about a cheeky prosecco?

"Over the years since my diagnosis I've learnt a lot about bowel cancer and what I've come to realise is that most of what I thought I knew was inaccurate. Early-onset bowel cancer is on the rise and we need a revolution in how we think about this disease because we really are 'Never Too Young'."

Chris

"When I was diagnosed aged 32 I had been experiencing abdominal pain and had to see my GP four times before being referred for a colonoscopy. The cancer had spread to my liver and peritoneum. I was devastated to be told I was incurable and my life expectancy was just two or three years. Nearly six years later, I still have cancer but I try to live life the way I want to.

"There have been ups and downs. I've lost count of how many rounds of chemotherapy I've had, but over the years I have also benefited from cutting edge treatment including HIPEC and stereotactic radiotherapy. Living with treatment long term can be tough, but I wouldn't be here without it. It would be easy to define my life by this disease. It can sometimes be hard to remember what life was like before cancer, but I make the most of every opportunity. I work part-time, go on regular holidays with my husband, exercise regularly and volunteer for a few charities.

"I'm really excited to be getting involved in the Never Too Young campaign, to help give a stronger voice to younger bowel cancer patients. I'm particularly keen to see improvements in diagnosis and the recognition of the wider impacts of living with cancer on work, relationships and mental health."

Andrea

"I was diagnosed in my 30s after going to A&E with what I thought was a bad flare-up of my Ulcerative Colitis. Two weeks later, in a hospital bed, I was diagnosed with what I then thought was an old man's cancer. Hmm not really me, but yup I had bowel cancer.

"I've had no end of scans and tests, surgery, chemo and ended up with a little bag on my tum. After surgery, I sought that little extra support, not from a medical point of view or from my family and friends. I needed to find people like me. I needed to chat about treatments, laugh about poo mishaps, moan about cannulas, talk about that dreamy surgeon and what life will be. And you know I still need this today even though I'm currently in remission.

"This is why I believe Never Too Young is super important, with more young people being diagnosed we want to make a community. We understand everyone's journey is a little different, so no matter what cancer stage, what treatment you have, or where you're from we want to support you live with and beyond bowel cancer."

Tom

"My first thought upon hearing the six-letter word that everyone dreads but no-one aged 36 ever expects to hear was, 'please tell me there is something that can be done about it.' What I have realised over time is that cancer makes you both more pragmatic and more focussed on living life to the full. However, at the time I was just overwhelmed and terrified. I was incredibly lucky to have amazing support from family and friends during those frightening times but not everyone is so fortunate.

"Bowel cancer among the under 50s is very much on the rise, a fact which many people, including some GPs, are unaware. It's this, together with the incredible treatment advances which have been made and the need to make these more widely available, which means that the work of 'never too young' has never been so important."

About the Group

The Never Too Young project group was shaped by people with personal experience of bowel cancer. Sadly, some members of the group have since died. We thank Sophie, Bridget, Lizzie and Beth for their time on the group and remember the important contribution they made to the project and to our work supporting younger people affected by bowel cancer.