A young woman from Melbourne, Jody Horne, recently shared her story about being diagnosed with stage 2 rectal cancer before her 29th birthday. Jody wants to raise awareness about the importance of recognizing and addressing the early warning signs of bowel and rectal cancer.

Jody initially dismissed her symptoms, attributing her fatigue and discomfort to a hectic lifestyle. It wasn’t until she underwent a sigmoidoscopy, a screening procedure for rectal cancers, that a polyp was discovered. Further investigation with a colonoscopy confirmed a cancerous tumor.

Reflecting on her experience, Jody expressed her shock and disbelief: “I was young and enjoying life, and then the carpet was pulled out from underneath me. I felt a mixture of shock and numbness. It was an incredibly upsetting experience…”

Jody went through radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery to remove the cancer. Thankfully, she is now cancer-free. However, she is determined to spread awareness about the importance of not ignoring signs and symptoms.

Early warnings of bowel and rectal cancer can manifest as tiredness, discomfort, anal bleeding, abdominal pain or bloating, constipation, diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, weakness, or breathlessness. Jody emphasizes the need to openly discuss these symptoms with loved ones and seek medical advice promptly.

Jody passionately declares, “There’s no taboo about poo; it’s just an aspect of our health. We need to talk more about it and break down the stigma.”

According to Cancer Research UK, bowel cancer affects around 43,000 people in the UK each year, with approximately 268,000 people currently living with the disease. The chances of survival increase significantly if bowel cancer is detected at the earliest stage.

Jody’s story serves as a reminder for us to pay attention to our bodies and to prioritize our health. Let’s spread awareness and encourage open conversations about bowel and rectal cancer symptoms.