Young mum's bowel cancer alarm: don't ignore early signs

A 45-year-old Melbourne mum of two ignored fatigue, low iron and blood in the stool until a colonoscopy revealed stage-3 bowel cancer, prompting surgery (with a temporary stoma) and six months of chemotherapy. Now in remission and under regular monitoring, she’s speaking out to urge Australians not to dismiss bowel changes as just pregnancy or aging, highlighting rising rates among younger people and backing the Poo Check awareness campaign to normalise conversations about bowel health.