Bowel cancer has been a shadow over my family. My uncle was diagnosed in his 30s, and my dad lost his life to it. In 2020, at just 44 years old, it became my reality too. I had no obvious symptoms, nothing that felt sinister, but something told me to get checked. I paid for a private colonoscopy, that decision saved my life. The results came back: Stage 3B bowel cancer. Within weeks, I had a bowel resection and followed with chemotherapy.

Just a year later, cancer showed up again, this time in my right lung. I had surgery to remove the middle lobe of my lung, only to find another nodule in the same lung two years later. Another surgery. Another battle.

At the time, my daughters were only 15. I was running a café, just finding my feet after the challenges of COVID. I was fit, healthy, doing all the “right” things. Cancer didn’t care. It doesn’t discriminate.

This journey has pushed me to my limits, physically, mentally, and emotionally, but “trucking on” is in my DNA. I’ve learned that in our healthcare system, you must be your own advocate and speak up. I always think if I speak up for myself it may change the path for someone else.

I’m deeply passionate about holistic care, treating the whole person, not just the disease. Cancer is more than a physical fight; it’s emotional, nutritional, psychological, and spiritual. Every piece of that puzzle matters.

I want to keep telling my story, keep fighting, and keep raising my voice, not just for me, but for everyone facing this disease.