Adrienne Hunter, a 45-year-old mother of two from Melbourne, was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in October 2023. The diagnosis came after she experienced fatigue, low iron, and blood in her stool—symptoms she initially dismissed as side effects of a busy lifestyle and recent childbirth.
The Diagnosis
A colonoscopy eventually revealed a tumor. Surgery followed, removing the tumor and her rectum. The procedure also required a temporary stoma bag.
Following surgery, Hunter underwent six months of chemotherapy.
Testing showed no evidence of cancer after treatment, but she remains under regular monitoring.
Turning Experience into Advocacy
Now in recovery, Hunter has partnered with Bowel Cancer Australia to raise awareness about the disease.
She emphasizes a critical statistic:
- Bowel cancer is the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25 to 54.
- 1,884 people under 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer annually.
A Critical Warning
Hunter urges others not to dismiss changes in bowel habits.
She notes that her initial symptoms—such as fatigue and blood in the stool—were easy to attribute to other life factors, but early detection was ultimately key to her treatment.