Vanessa, Australia

I was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in October 2022. Like everyone diagnosed with cancer, I was shocked. None of the known risk factors for developing this type of cancer rang true for me, so it just felt so unfair. 

Early on I joined Bowel Cancer Australia’s patient Facebook page, cheekily called The Movement. Through this page and their monthly online catch ups, I connected with lots of other people in the same situation as me - young, fit, seemingly healthy, with young families and responsible jobs - who had also had their lives upended by this cruel disease. These connections have been so important from not only a practical perspective as we share tips and experiences, but also from an emotional perspective. Everyone is so kind and supportive and it really has made a profoundly positive impact on my experience as a cancer patient.