Courageous stories: You’re helping Kiwis battling bowel cancer
The stories of brave New Zealanders living with bowel cancer are a powerful reminder of the impact you’re making. Every donation helps provide crucial support and hope for those who need it most.
Your contribution is more than just a donation - it's a lifeline for those affected by bowel cancer.
Lisa’s story of strength and resilience
“I remember so clearly the day I discovered something wasn’t right … I went to the toilet, and something felt weird. I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh, what was that?’ I looked at it, and there was this big blood clot on the toilet paper.”
Lisa’s dad died of bowel cancer in 2008, so she knew to take this symptom seriously. Three weeks later, Lisa was undergoing a colonoscopy when she was told it looked like she had cancer.
Surgery followed, “I was cut from my belly button to pubic bone…It was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.”
“I’m so glad I found out about the physio program funded by Bowel Cancer NZ for my rehab after having surgery. I was so grateful to learn about how to manage scar tissue by massage. ”
Lisa was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, and chemo commenced, but unfortunately, Lisa experienced rare chemotherapy-induced heart attacks.“The oncologist told me, ‘If you continue with chemo, we think it will kill you.’”
Without other treatment options available, Lisa is hopeful the surgery got everything. “It’s always in the foreground, but I just try to carry on,” Lisa says.
Why sign up to Move Your Butt?
Because bowel cancer kills as many Kiwis as breast and prostate cancer combined – and it can affect anyone, at any age.
It doesn’t need to be this way! Bowel cancer is more than 90% curable if caught early enough - which is why raising awareness and supporting patients is so important.
Every day, on average
8
Kiwis are diagnosed with
bowel cancer
3
Kiwis will die from
bowel cancer
Every month, on average
253
Kiwis will be diagnosed with
bowel cancer
100
Kiwis will die from
bowel cancer
You’re helping brave Kiwis battle cancer
Karen’s story
I was conscious through the procedure, and the tumour was very obvious, which confirmed my fears. I was told that day they were 98% sure it was cancer.
From there, the timeline is a bit of a blur, but we met with the surgeon within weeks and was told what my treatment plan would be.
I am on the Bowel Cancer NZ Patient and Whanau Support Group, which has been an excellent source of information and support (and) Bowel Cancer NZ has been able to provide me with fantastic resources.
Tracy’s story
I was apparently “too young” to even have it considered that it might be something as serious as bowel cancer.
When we were finally being told the gravity of the situation in ED… all I could think was, at last, I am finally being listened to and ‘I am in the right place to get this problem taken care of’.
"I really look forward to the Bottoms Up coffee chat each month. It's a great opportunity to connect with others and swap stories and advice. I'm super thankful to Bowel Cancer NZ for offering this service."
Wayne’s story
“I was sitting up after having the procedure, and the colonoscopist was like, ‘everything is pretty good, but THAT shouldn’t be there.’
(After being told I had bowel cancer) I was like, “oh well, we’ll deal with this in due course. I’ll go see the doctors, and they’ll give me some drugs and cut out the bits I don’t need.”
Enter Bowel Cancer NZ’s free physio rehabilitation sessions.
“It’s been good to have the support to get the body back to that stage where I can do things.”
Thanks to YOU - we're saving Kiwi lives!
Every kilometre you move and every dollar you raise goes to the fight against bowel cancer.
Here's what your fundraising makes possible:
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Free patient services - including counselling, physio and financial assistance.
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Nationwide Education and Awareness campaigns.
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Advocacy to lower the screening age and call for new unfunded drugs.
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Vital bowel cancer research in New Zealand.
