I was fit and healthy and about to turn 33 when I was diagnosed with an ‘old person’s cancer’ despite no family history. This is my message to all young Australians

A young mother of two was forced to quit work and put her studies on hold when she received a life-changing cancer diagnosis a week before her 33rd birthday.

Melissa Dunmore, from Melbourne, was given the news on February 8 after surgeons found a 20cm tumor in her colon, along with 11 small precancerous polyps.

Melissa had stage three colon cancer. She had no family history of the disease and her only symptoms were mild iron deficiency and a small amount of blood in her stool.

While she was still processing the news, the mother faced an intensive treatment regimen and within three weeks she had surgery to remove her entire large colon and surrounding lymph nodes.

To add to her stress, her family was also forced to leave their home after her husband Jak, an electrician, lost his job when his employer closed down.

A young mother of two was forced to quit work and abandon her studies when she was given an earth-shattering diagnosis of bowel cancer a week before her 33rd birthday

Melissa Dunmore, from Melbourne, was given the news on February 8 after surgeons found a 20cm tumor in her colon, along with 11 small precancerous polyps.

After Melissa gave birth to her second child, Lakyn, 18 months ago, she noticed blood in her stool and thought it was related to the birth and resulting hemorrhoids.

At the time, she worked casual hours in retail, was not entitled to annual leave and was not concerned enough to see a doctor.

But in November 2023 she woke up ‘very sick’ and had severe stomach pains with rectal bleeding, so she visited the emergency room where she collapsed.

Doctors were unable to perform a colonoscopy due to the necessary bowel preparation, so Melissa was placed on an urgent waiting list.

“I was told I needed to be seen within 30 days and that I couldn’t wait more than two weeks… I ended up waiting three months because my urgent colonoscopy request was lost in the system,” she said.

‘By January I still hadn’t heard anything and I was constantly checking my phone and answering every call.’

Although the bleeding continued, it had slowed down and “wasn’t that bad.” Meanwhile, her GP had done blood tests which showed she had low iron levels – a known symptom of bowel cancer.

Melissa was finally able to book the life-changing colonoscopy.

“I woke up in recovery and my husband was there with me,” she recalls.

‘The surgeon came, closed the sheet and my heart sank. He said, “It’s not good” and I remember looking at my husband’s face – he was white as a sheet.

“We went home and cried holding each other. We didn’t know at the time how serious it was or whether it had spread.”

Melissa was then faced with breaking the news to her two young children.

‘I sat down with both of them and explained in simple terms what was wrong. They knew I had to have a colonoscopy and the next day after we found out I said, “the doctors found a really big germ in my body that needs to get out,” she said.

‘My daughter pulled her face up and said, “Ew, Mom!” It was quite a light conversation, because they are still so young and don’t fully understand it yet.

‘You don’t think you’ll ever have to tell your children. But we are a very open family and we always talk about feelings.’

But in November 2023 she woke up ‘very sick’ and had severe stomach pains with rectal bleeding, so she visited the emergency room where she collapsed.

‘The surgeon came, closed the sheet and my heart sank. He said, ‘It’s not right’ and I remember looking at my husband’s face – he was white as a ghost,” she recalled

The first time Melissa came home from chemotherapy with a bottle connected to the port in her chest, her children had a lot of questions.

She explained to them that this was the “drug that would make her better, even if it looks a little scary” and they took it well.

Melissa started chemotherapy on April 18 and will complete her 12 rounds by the end of September.

In the first few weeks the dose of medication was so strong that she developed neuropathy (cold, tender hands) and her throat closed up so she could not drink liquids.

Her dosage was reduced, but she still experienced common side effects, including vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, hot flashes and no periods.

With Melissa in treatment every few weeks, her husband is now a stay-at-home dad who handles school drop-offs and errands.

The pair lived off their savings while staying with Jak’s parents, and are grateful to have family nearby to help with the kids.

Since starting treatment, Melissa has lost 15kg, suffered muscle loss and is losing her hair.

“When I heard the word ‘cancer,’ I knew that hair loss comes with it,” she said, adding that she was still unprepared for the extent to which her life would change.

‘Emotionally and mentally I have good days and bad days. There are times when I ask myself, “Can I do this?” but I am fortunate to have a great support network around me.”

Melissa has also been referred to Peter Mac for genetic testing to determine if her children ages 16 and older need early testing and colonoscopies.

By sharing her story, she hopes that young people realize that colon cancer is not the ‘elderly disease’ they think it is.

“Be aware of your body, your health, toilet habits, check your breasts for lumps, do it all,” she said.

‘Please talk to professionals and friends about health issues, and never just shrug it off.’

If you would like to contribute to Melissa’s GoFundMe, Click here.