11/06/2026
Let's Talk S**t 💩
Yep, let's talk about it.
Because talking about your poo might just save your life.
I was 32 years old when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 bowel cancer.
I lost my colon, re**um and a**s.
I nearly lost my life.
Today, I live with a permanent ileostomy.
The scary part?
I didn't have the warning signs people often talk about.
No ongoing abdominal pain.
No dramatic changes to my bowel habits.
Nothing that made me think cancer.
Then one afternoon after work, I went to the bathroom and suddenly bled heavily.
That moment changed my life forever.
Many people still think bowel cancer is an "older person's disease".
I was 32.
And I'm not alone.
Australia now has one of the highest rates of early-onset bowel cancer in the world. Bowel cancer is now the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25 to 44, and Australians born in the 1990s are two to three times more likely to develop bowel cancer than those born in the 1950s. Rates in younger Australians continue to rise while rates in older Australians are declining.
Every year, thousands of Australians are diagnosed with bowel cancer and more than 5,000 lose their lives to the disease. It remains one of Australia's deadliest cancers despite being one of the most preventable and treatable when found early.
The statistics that matter most are these:
✅ If bowel cancer is detected early, more than 90% of cases can be successfully treated.
✅ Around 70% of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are alive five years after diagnosis, and survival rates continue to improve because of better awareness and earlier detection.
✅ Some people have no symptoms at all before diagnosis.
That last one is important.
I know because I was one of them.
People often assume they'll know if something is wrong.
The reality is many don't.
That's why screening matters.
That's why checking your poo matters.
That's why having uncomfortable conversations matters.
A bowel screening kit is simple.
It's done at home.
It takes minutes.
And it could save your life.
If you're over 50, do the free screening test when it arrives.
If you're 45 to 49, you can request a free screening kit.
If you're younger and have symptoms, a family history, or simply concerns, speak to your GP. Don't let anyone tell you that you're "too young" for bowel cancer.
My life changed forever at 32.
If sharing my story gets even one person to do a test, book an appointment, or take symptoms seriously, then it's worth talking about.
So let's stop treating poo like a taboo subject.
Check your poo.
Get a kit.
Talk about bowel cancer.
Because early detection saves lives.
**t
For anyone wanting a screening kit or more information:
[Bowel Cancer Australia](https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bowel-cancer/bowel-cancer-facts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
[Cancer Australia Statistics](https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/bowel-cancer/bowel-cancer-colorectal-cancer-australia-statistics?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
[BowelScan Queensland](https://bowelscanqueensland.org.au/products/bowelscan-testing-kit?utm_source=chatgpt.com)