SA winemaker Nick Dugmore had been living with bowel cancer for almost two years before being diagnosed

SA winemaker Nick Dugmore would never have believed he had been living with bowel cancer for almost two years before being diagnosed.

When Nick Dugmore was on holiday in Scotland with his wife Rebecca, they were talking to a friend about her battle with bowel cancer – little did Mr Dugmore know then, but he had been living with bowel cancer for almost two years.

Upon the couple’s arrival home to Willunga, Mr Dugmore began noticing blood and mucus in his stools.

He went to the doctor and had his blood, faeces and urine tested, yet all came back negative.

But Mr Dugmore and his doctor were not satisfied.

After another week of symptoms the 39-year-old winemaker had a colonoscopy – he had cancer and had been living with it for 18 months.

“I just thought I was going to die and this (was) the start of it,” he said.

Mr Dugmore was shocked by the diagnosis — he said he’d always been fit and healthy and was conscious of what he put in his body.

“I do a lot of things but cancer just doesn’t give a s**t,” the Stoke Wines owner said.

“I could be 100 kgs overweight and survive this thing or I could just get unlucky.”

Nick Dugmore was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer. Picture: Facebook

When the doctor told him he had stage three cancer he thought of his children, five-year-old Finlay and two-year-old Flora, who continue to not know their dad’s health struggle.

“I don’t think they need to understand cancer just yet,” Mr Dugmore said.

“It’s so dark, and I think for a child that age it’s just a difficult concept to understand.”

He said the “silver lining” to his diagnosis is knowing he will ensure his children are tested every year from 25 years old.

He is telling his story to inspire people to be proactive with their health.

Nick Dugmore, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer, with his wife Rebecca Dugmore. Picture: Instagram

Nick Dugmore, who was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer, with his dad, Max. Picture: Instagram

The Willunga man had his first round of chemotherapy on Friday which he said “thrashed” him.

“I have 18 weeks of chemo, a two-week break, six weeks of radio, a three month break then surgery,” he said.

Mr Dugmore who was named the best winemaker under 50 by Young Gun of Wine in 2020 and won the 2023 ‘Vigneron’ trophy, said his diagnosis meant he’s had to step away from the physical aspects of Stoke Wines – his Kangaroo Island winery.

“I feel so lucky to be in the wine industry, the support of the wine community is amazing,” he said.

Volunteers came to help tend the vineyards when Mr Dugmore wasn’t able.

“People bought wine from our website to support,” he said.

If you want to support the Dugmore family, you can here.