Donna’s Story
In March 2015, we celebrated my 50th birthday. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program sent out the free testing kit a couple of months after my birthday.
Don’t ask me why, but I just had a feeling that I needed to complete the test. I sent the test off and didn’t give it much more thought as we were heading off on our wonderful European holiday. We had the time of our lives and loved every minute of it. Upon our arrival home I had a letter from the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program telling me that I had a positive test and needed to see my GP.
None of us ever think that we will get sick or injured – it’s always someone else, right? I was fit, healthy, relatively young and had no signs or symptoms of bowel cancer. My GP referred me to a Gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy. I woke to the news that I had what appeared to be cancer that was too big to be removed at that time. I was booked in for an abdominal CT and a chest X-ray for 8:30 the next morning to make sure the cancer hadn’t spread to my other organs. I also had an appointment to see a colorectal surgeon 5 days later. The following week I had the right side of my bowel (30cms) and 30 lymph nodes removed, a procedure known as right hemi-colectomy.
I am very, very lucky. They had managed to remove all of the cancer. While chemo may be of some benefit, my team of specialists feel that the risks and possible complications associated with chemo doesn’t make it worth having. I will now undergo blood tests every 3 months, see my specialist every 6 months and have annual scans, X-rays and colonoscopies for the next 5 years. At the end of that time, if my tests are all negative I will be considered cancer free.
Having to tell my family – my children – that I have bowel cancer was one of the hardest things I have ever done. You put on a brave face, reassure everyone that you are going to be ok, that hopefully we’ve caught it early enough, yet deep inside you’re afraid that you may be wrong. Anxiety gets the better of you at night and wakes you from your sleep. You look at those you love and lock away into your memory that lovely smile, or that beautiful hug that you have just received. You cherish every minute you spend with them. All of a sudden the things that used to seem important or cause stress and worry no longer matter – all you want is to be able to able to continue to enjoy life with your family and friends, to give love, receive love and watch your loved ones enjoy life and grow old with my husband. Thanks to the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program I now have that opportunity.
Of all the people I have spoken to in the last month only one other has sent the screening test off. My husband, Graeme, didn’t send his off despite my nagging. He is prepared to do the test now. I wonder how many of you didn’t do the test or know someone that didn’t do it. I would ask you all to take the test when you receive it. It has saved my life. In turn, I want to help save yours. If someone you know doesn’t want to take the test tell them my story. The test took a few minutes of my time but it has given me many years now to enjoy my family.