Sally Lerwer, 36, from Melbourne, was overjoyed that she expected her third child -a long -awaited IVF baby that she had as a solo mother.
After having navigated two pregnancies, Sally felt confident and prepared for what we lay.
But as the weeks pass, something didn’t feel quite right.
About halfway through her pregnancy, Sally started to experience a disturbing symptom that she could not ignore.
Sally (right, with a friend) was pregnant with her third child when she started to experience a disturbing symptom that she could not ignore
‘When I was 18 weeks pregnant, I noticed that I started bleeding after a bowel movement. In the beginning it wasn’t much blood, but that increased over time, “she says.
‘To start with, it was not every time I had a bowel movement, but the time it tapped, it became every time and there was more blood. It was really scary. ‘
Sally prepared the bleeding problem with doctors and in obstetric agreements during her pregnancy.
“Every time I did, I was told that it was most likely hemorrhoids and that was common,” she adds.
“I was told not to worry about it. I put it in mind because I had a few complications to worry about, but the worries did not disappear because it continued to happen. ‘
Sally did her best to trust the professionals and welcomed her daughter, Delaney, in March last year. She threw herself in to become a mother and connect with her new baby – but the bleeding continued.
‘When my daughter was seven months old, I decided to ask my doctor for further action. I have seen this doctor all my life, so I trusted her. Again, she said it was probably hemorrhoids and that I probably just needed the chemist’s cream, but she said, “You will never know if we’re not investigating it,” Sally tells me.
“The doctor who did this procedure said we could have had a completely different conversation if I had waited another year,” says Sally
Knowing that the waiting list in the public system can be expanded, Sally took the referral of her doctor and paid $ 300 to get a colonoscopy private within fourteen days.
Sally’s mother took care of her children when she underwent the simple day operation.
“When I came in the repair lounge, there was a nurse who gave me the letter and said that the doctor would go through everything with me at the follow -up appointment,” says Sally.
The letter stated that they had found 10 polyps, who were pre-cancer-like, and two tumors that were ‘most likely’ cancer.
‘I was a bit worried when I read it because I didn’t expect them to find anything. I googled what the medical terms meant and I think I just thought I was still in order because nothing was actually confirmed. ‘
But it wasn’t good news.
A rectal resection was carried out a few days later in the follow -up appointment – in which part of the rectum was removed from Sally’s Rectum – with samples sent to a lab.
Then she met her doctor to discuss the results.
“The doctor who did this procedure said we could have had a completely different conversation if I had waited another year. It turned out to be one cancer stage, and that would have been advanced if I had not insisted on a reference, says Sally.
“That was a frightening thought – and my first thoughts were for my children. I thought of my baby and that she wouldn’t even remember me. My six -year -old would hardly remember me. I am so happy that it didn’t get worse. Another solo mother who was a friend of mine died of colon cancer, so my mind naturally raced in panic. ‘
Although it was a relief to have a diagnosis and treatment plan, Sally could not help but think about how her first symptoms had been rejected as ‘part of pregnancy’.
“I was so happy that I listened to my feelings,” she adds.
Fortunately, her treatment was fast and effective.
“It was just one operation in which they removed the polyps and tumors in one go. I was in the hospital one evening and had done it all privately. ‘
Within three weeks of having colonoscopy, all was taken care of.
“I felt that I was being taken seriously, they really took care of me, they were great. I was told of an oncologist that this specific colon cancer is rare because of the low location. ‘
To follow up, Sally had taken a blood panel for genetic tests to find out if she had the Lynch syndrome – a genetic disorder that considerably increases the risk of certain cancers, especially colorectal cancers.
After Sally had removed her cancer, she underwent genetic tests to see if her three children had more often cancer in the future (depicted with her daughter, Delaney)
If she did, there was a 50 percent chance that she spent the gene on each of her three children, now 16, six and 15 months.
“It came back as all clear. As far as we can see at the moment, it was completely random that I received this cancer at the age of 35. It was a huge relief because it felt a bit like an ax that hung over my head when you have the Lynch syndrome because it increases the chances of a lower region of cancer, including uterus, ovaries or a hercurrence in the intestine. ‘
In January 2025 Sally had a series of scans, including a CT, PET and MRI.
“These scans confirmed that the cancer was gone. I was told that I have to go for these repeated scans for monitoring every six months. Moreover, the first year or two I am a research operation every four months to check whether it will be up to it again. ‘
Doctors do not expect a repeat in her case.
‘It’s hard to get my head around the random part of getting cancer. My mind racet with a million thoughts: Is there something that I could have done to change it? Is there something that I could have done to make a difference? “She says.
“But I don’t have any answers to those questions. I am incredibly relieved that it is being treated, I am healthy today and I can enjoy my time with my children. ‘
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