15/06/2026
Before her diagnosis, Helen's life was full. Between work, family and the routines of everyday life, cancer was the furthest thing from her mind.
When she woke one night with abdominal discomfort, she expected to find a simple explanation and return to her normal routine. Instead, a visit to the emergency department led to a diagnosis of Stage 4 bowel cancer.
In part one of her story, Helen reflects on receiving that diagnosis, the uncertainty that followed and the impact it had on her priorities and plans for the future.
Over the coming weeks, we'll be sharing more of Helen's story across our social media channels. If you'd like to watch her full story now, you can do so by visiting the Lift Cancer Care Services YouTube channel.
We are incredibly grateful to patients like Helen who generously share their experiences. By telling their stories, they help others navigate a cancer diagnosis with greater knowledge, understanding and confidence, while bringing valuable perspective to a time that can often feel overwhelming and uncertain.