I was referred to a gastroenterologist by my GP for an endoscopy and colonoscopy to find out why I had certain symptoms. Upon waking up from the procedure I was diagnosed with bowel cancer and it had spread to the lymph nodes (the oncologist later said I had stage 3 cancer). The cause of which was Lynch Syndrome, a hereditary genetic condition that predisposes those that have it to a number of cancers, the most common being bowel cancer. I later found out that I inherited this from my mum's side of the family after she told me that she had, had a cancerous tumour removed from her bowel because of this condition. Due to side effects caused by the biopsy I had to have emergency surgery to remove the cancer and was in hospital for a week. Later during my hospital stay I was told I would have to undergo six months of chemo treatments. The chemo process was scheduled to begin straight after I was fully recovered from surgery.

 

With this being caused by a hereditary condition meant that it could affect any children I had or would have in the future, as well as any siblings (same family line as myself). In particular, each child would have a 50% chance of getting the condition and if one did contract it, they would need yearly colonoscopies for the rest of their life, just as I am required to from now on. Early in 2025 I found out that my mum had once again contracted cancer from the condition, which shows that just because you get rid of one type of cancer from your body that was caused by the condition and go through chemo, it doesn't mean that you can't cause contract anymore cancer in your body due to the condition.

 

During the first treatment cycle, I needed to be admitted into hospital for prolonged nausea caused by the chemo, during which I received a new regime I had to do for each cycle of chemo, which resulted in me taking more medication. This made me feel very anxious, because I was not prepared for this, mainly due to not asking enough questions and being blasé about the whole process after the first appointment with the oncologist and the subsequent treatment. However, this was only the first of many side effects that would start to manifest during the next few cycles, incl. painful cramps, muscle spasms, metallic tastes, permanent cold sensitivity, which caused me to visit the emergency room a few more times. However, soon afterwards with help from the new medication regime and my medical support team (psychologist, physio, and dietitian) I was able to manage the side effects well and my anxiety, by halfway through the chemo process reduced to a low level. From this time onwards the rest of the cycles went rather quickly, although I did have to go to hospital again, this time for Influenza A.

After my last treatment cycle, some of my side effects did decrease, which meant I could stop taking most of the chemo medication and stop the exercises for the cramps. However, about a month afterwards I got permanent neuropathy in the fingers and toes, which I was told by the oncologist this was fairly common and caused by the chemo and that my case was fairly mild.  This made activities that need fine movement (e.g. typing, tying shoe laces) very hard, as well as this I could not hold cold things (this continues to happen). To alleviate this and decrease the time the side effect would last, he recommended me to see my physio, which upon visiting gave me a number of exercises, however it will still be a long recovery process. Now, in July 2025, I still have the neuropathy, but I have learned how to work around it for some things, for example with typing I was able to work out what the keys felt like and how I had to place my fingers in order to touch the right key, which meant that I could work closer to my full capacity.  

 

In the oncology appointment following my last chemo treatment, a blood test, and a CT scan, I received news that I was officially in remission and that night I was given a "remission day" party by my bible study group with an ice cream cake in my favourite flavour, which I was very delighted in receiving as I could not eat ice cream for about 4 months, which after having it every night for many years was quite a shock to the system. Although, I still have side effects, because I'm in remission this is the end of my chemo journey.