I have had minimum 15 years’ experience working as an Endoscopy nurse and dishing out bowel prep instructions or assisting in your removal of polyps or even looking after you in recovery. I never in my life expected to be a patient.

Even when I had blood in my stools or went to the toilet more than 10 times a day… I agreed with my GP “must be stress”.

After a few months of excessive toileting daily, blood and mucus in my stools… I decided to challenge my GP. We have ruled out gynaecology possibly options as well as haemorrhoids. I will not leave until I get a colonoscopy referral.

I was absolutely gobsmacked to find out that I had stage 3 colon cancer at 41. I was a nurse in endoscopy but couldn’t believe that it was me suffering from this disease.

Fast forward one year, and I am “clear” of bowel cancer after surgery and chemotherapy.

I’m not going to say it was an easy adventure. But I have survived and glad to see the “end” of it for the moment: I can’t wait for my next colonoscopy to give me the all clear and to continue to enjoy my life as a wife, mum, sister, daughter, friend and colleague!!

My one piece of advice: Don’t ever underestimate your “gut feeling”. Fight for it.