My daughter died exactly two months after her diagnosis, just after she turned 39. She must have had cancer for a very long time. The five years prior to Caroline’s death, she had visited her GP on numerous occasions. At various times, she was diagnosed with chronic long-term back pain, protruding disc, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. All of these were red flags for bowel cancer, but Caroline was only 38 and seen as ‘too young’ to develop it. There were missed opportunities.

Caroline was the eldest of three daughters, and my first born, the one who taught me how to be a mother. At 38, she had moved into a new home with her partner near the countryside. She loved animals, nature, and the environment. She studied psychology at the University of Reading, worked in mental health for the NHS and always tried to help the most marginalised in life. She had strong bonds with her whole family. We are devastated by her loss.

Bowel cancer is considered an old person’s disease, but it’s not. If sharing Caroline’s story saves even one life, I will gladly play my part. She is missed and loved.

A couple of weeks after sending off my poo sample, a nurse called and explained the test was positive and that I’d been referred to the colorectal department.

I hadn't thought I was nervous until I reached the waiting room for the colonoscopy, where my mum dropped me off and gave me a massive hug. As I waited, I noticed I must have been the youngest person in the room. I looked around at everyone exchanging sympathetic smiles, and assumed this experience was a one-off and I was too young to be there.

After what felt like forever, I was called through. Although I was sedated, I remember looking at the screen and seeing a lot of black. I didn’t know what that meant or if I was hallucinating, but my gut feeling was telling me something was wrong.

I was told the consultant wanted to speak to me and was led into a side room where my mum and the consultant were waiting. They said they had found a tumour in my colon. It was “probably” malignant and “probably” cancer.

I had surgery soon after, and luckily I didn't need any further treatment. I'm so so grateful and thankful to the NHS. The fact that this was caught and removed all in the space of less than two months is phenomenal.

I appreciate that everyone has different experiences with cancer, and that I'm extremely lucky. Please listen to your body and don't ignore anything that doesn't feel right to you.

I read a quote recently that I resonated so much with. It said: "When you get cancer, you learn two things: you are stronger than you imagine, and you are loved more than you know".

I’ve always had IBS which mostly flares up due to stress, anxiety and a few food triggers. It means that I’m pretty in tune with my bowel and toilet habits, so I instantly noticed when things changed. In December 2023, I stared feeling nauseous after eating and I was going to the toilet four times a day rather than my normal once a day. After a week, I spoke to my GP a couple of times and she sent me for blood tests and gave me an at-home test.

I was on a train in Switzerland just before Christmas when my GP called and said they found blood in my stool. When I got home, I had an emergency colonoscopy. I didn’t take anyone with me because I genuinely didn’t believe they would find anything. A couple of minutes into the procedure and there it was, a tumour.

I called my boyfriend to come to the hospital as I was in shock and couldn’t think straight. The nurse was so kind and escorted me to the scan where my boyfriend was waiting for me.

I had surgery and after I was told I was diagnosed with stage 1 bowel cancer. It was such a huge relief as it meant that I didn't need any further treatment.

The new motto I tell everyone is, “Get to know your normal”. I mean this in terms of bowel habits. I knew mine, so I was able to act quickly when they changed. I’ve had multiple friends ask me about my symptoms and share their own bowel problems. My answer is always, “Is it normal for you?” and if not, “Go get it checked”. I love that my diagnosis has made people question their own symptoms. If I can help one person, then this whole experience is a win!

In December 2024, I was experiencing a lot of fatigue. Often, weekends would wipe me out running after the kids, coaching a youth football team. In January 2025, I had a pain in my right side which I put down to an ongoing cough and a winter bug. I went to see my GP who suggested some blood tests. After a few days my GP contacted me to say that I was severely anaemic and showing signs of blood loss. I followed up with some samples and went on a family ski trip to return to a CT scan and a colonoscopy.

I was told after my CT that I had a large tumour in my large intestine and would require surgery. I was in shock looking back. I didn’t expect each stage to confirm the worst and it did. I felt I shouldn’t have to face this at 39 and I was scared for what the future held.

I had surgery and was glad to hear I didn't need any further treatment.

Everyone will be impacted by cancer in their lifetime but knowing when to ask for advice and follow-ups is essential. Getting help early was key for me: getting diagnosed early via my GP and not letting a niggle go unnoticed. A few more weeks or months of brushing my symptoms under the carpet could have led to a very different outcome.

I’d also stress that there’s so much help in the build-up to diagnosis and treatment, but there is a massive gap in supporting those getting back to work emotionally. The expectation of a return to normality is not right, as cancer changes you as an individual. Recovery for me has been quite long, despite my not needing further treatment. We need to raise awareness about the recalibration needed post-cancer.

I was going to the toilet 15-20 times per day, every time with blood and mucus, and it had started waking me up in the middle of the night, one or two times per night. This is when it really started getting to me, I was constantly tired and couldn't concentrate on work.

After a lot of trips to the doctor and A&E, I was eventually diagnosed with bowel cancer.

I then had five days of radiotherapy, followed by surgey where I had a planned ileostomy. I then chose to have mop chemotherapy to reduce the chance of the cancer returning.

Since then I have had my ileostomy reversed, although I was in no rush as it wasn't giving me any major issues.

Life has been good since. I've finished treatment, and me and my wife welcomed a baby brother to our little girl in 2023.

In early November 2023, I received the bowel cancer screening test through the post because I’m the eligible age. I didn’t have any symptoms, but I did it straight away.

A few weeks later, I received a letter saying the test had detected blood in my stool and was invited for a colonoscopy.

During the colonoscopy they found polyps which they removed and they also took eight biopsies. Afterwards, they called my partner and I into a side room where a nurse explained to us that it was cancer. This was a massive shock as I’ve always been fit and healthy.

When I reflect on my diagnosis and treatment, I realise that if I didn’t have the support of my family and friends, I don’t know how I’d get through it. You’re always going to go through some dark moments, but that support network is essential.

Please never think that you’re exempt from cancer and make sure you do any screening tests on offer. I had no symptoms, yet I was thankfully only stage 2 when I was diagnosed. Receiving the screening test through the post potentially saved my life.

Around November 2019, I received a bowel screening test through the post. Sadly, I ignored this and never sent a poo sample.

At around the same time I had knee surgery and during the operation they had discovered 'anomalies' within my blood samples, which they thought to be a potential stomach ulcer but instead I was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer.

I was totally shocked, but I was 100% confident that I would beat the disease and survive.

After having surgery and chemotherapy in December 2020, I was given the best Christmas news ever; there was no trace of any cancer in my blood samples.

My message is: cancer is silent. Don’t overlook any ailment or ill feeling. Get it checked out, cancer or not. I hope cancer never happens to any of you, but it could. You are only here once, so take care of yourself.

After turning 50 in December 2024 and becoming eligible for bowel cancer screening, I received a FIT test in the post the following month, which I completed and posted off. I then received a letter inviting me for a telephone conversation with a nurse. Shortly after the colonoscopy, I was diagnosed with stage 2 bowel cancer.

I’d had no symptoms. I was in utter shock.

If you receive the screening test in the post, please do take it. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about and it could save your life.