This year’s been challenging for everyone. It was especially tough for me and my family. When the pandemic hit Australia, I developed a cough that wouldn’t go away, but test results revealed it wasn’t COVID-19.
 
It was the result of my cancer having spread to the lymph nodes between my lungs following my Stage IV bowel cancer diagnosis three years ago at age 32.
 
Thanks to your generosity, I have been receiving ongoing support and advice from a Bowel Cancer Australia nurse and nutritionist. They do a top job. While I have a good network of family and friends, I still rely on the telenursing service, so I can imagine what a lifeline the service must be for people who don’t have additional support.
 
The benefit and need for Bowel Cancer Australia’s work has never been clearer, especially given the growing impact of bowel cancer in younger people. There were 14,000 new bowel cancer cases in younger Australians between 2006 and 2016.
  
Thanks in part to Bowel Cancer Australia’s years of advocacy work to ensure patients like me have access to affordable treatment options, I have been able to watch my 6-year-old kindergartener develop into a resilient 9-year-old young lady. My wife and I were also able to renew our wedding vows last year. She has been through hell and back and has been there for me and our daughter Layla, 100 percent.
 
Cancer takes away the ability to plan for the future. It’s hard because everyone else is moving along, living their lives, but our life is at a standstill. We do what we can.
 
I know this year has been tough financially on many of us, and we are all being asked to give what we can, but there has never been a more important time than now to support Bowel Cancer Australia. 
 
When I first found out I had cancer, I thought I was going to die. I’m still here three years on, so it goes to show, anything’s possible.
 
Thank you for reading my story and donating if you can.

Read Darren's full story here.