School teacher and mum of 3 daughters under 6, Helen Dunne was just 36 when diagnosed with Bowel Cancer (Colorectal Cancer). Hailing from Cavan but now living in Dublin with her husband Jamie and their daughters, the young mum thought that her initial symptoms were down to haemorrhoids but thankfully her doctor felt that further investigation would be beneficial.

This is Helen’s story.

 

“I was experiencing bleeding during my last pregnancy and after. I was told I had haemorrhoids which I did. The bleeding turned a little darker, so I went to my GP she examined me and said it probably was haemorrhoids but said any bleeding she liked further investigation. Thankfully I had private health insurance and was seen very quickly.

They found something during my colonoscopy, and I had to wait a week for results I was devastated to hear it was rectal cancer my youngest daughter was 7 months old. I had just gone back to work after maternity leave, I am a primary school teacher. I attended St. Vincent’s Private Hospital for my treatment, and it happened very quickly. I got chemo every two weeks for 6 months. It was tough but I got through it with help of family and friends. Losing my hair was a really bad time for me because my girls had a lot of questions etc… I responded very well to chemo and didn’t need radiation so had my surgery in January of this year.

I was told in February by my surgeon that my biopsies were clear after surgery, so no more treatment was needed. I am dealing with bad neuropathy now as a side effect of my treatment. I am hoping this will begin to go soon. If I were to make one final point it is that you are never too young to get bowel cancer and get checked if you have symptoms. ”

Helen is sharing her story as an ambassador for our #NoRegrets campaign to raise awareness of Bowel Cancer and urge the public to have #NoRegrets and get checked if the notice any symptoms of Bowel Cancer and to have #NoRegrets and advocate for your health, Bowel cancer is not just a disease of older age.

This campaign is also calling on the government to have #NoRegrets and reduce screening age now from 59 to 50!