37-year-old Ocean Grove woman shares bowel cancer fight, pushes for awareness

Elise Stapleton, in her 30s, found out that what she first thought was her endometriosis flaring up was in fact bowel cancer. She’s sharing how some chocolates could help others facing the disease.

Bowel cancer survivor Elise Stapleton with the "irregular chocolates" being launched to encourage people to talk about bowel movements. Picture: Brad Fleet

Elise Stapleton was shocked to find out that what she first thought was her endometriosis flaring up was in fact bowel cancer.

Two weeks after her 36th birthday, Ocean Grove’s Elise Stapleton was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and is still processing the shock a year on.

Ms Stapleton, now 37, said she’d been experiencing symptoms which were “basically endometriosis symptoms” since July, 2022.

This included sporadic abdominal pain, loose bowel movements, needing to use the toilet frequently, and fatigue.

Other symptoms of bowel cancer include a change in shape or appearance of faeces, blood in the stool or rectal bleeding, unexplained anaemia, weight loss, and pain or a lump in the anus or rectum.

Ms Stapleton said she felt there was something more sinister than her existing endometriosis, so visited her gynaecologist in October, 2022.

“I had a pelvic ultrasound, and they found a lesion in my bowel,” she said.

“I was quite anxious to hear the word lesion … 22 months before, one of my older sisters had gone through the same thing (and it was) stage three bowel cancer.”

Ms Stapleton said because of her family history, her gynaecologist involved a colorectal surgeon for a further scan.

She said they told her they didn’t believe the lesion was cancerous.

But when she had endometriosis surgery in December, 2022, she woke up to the news they were wrong, and it was cancer.

“It was a real shock to the system,” she said.

Further testing revealed Ms Stapleton’s cancer was stage three, and after having another surgery to remove the tumour, she began chemotherapy.

She finished her six rounds in July 2023, and in September was told she was cancer free.

Ms Stapleton said within this “whirlwind” year, she also met Kieran Johnson, her now-fiance.

Elise Stapleton with fiance Kieran. Picture: Brad Fleet

She said she dubbed him “Kieran the keeper” when, only three weeks after the pair met online, she received her diagnosis.

Mr Johnson stuck by her side through her fight.

He said after realising he wanted to spend the right of his life with Ms Stapleton, he popped the question on Christmas Day, in front of Ms Stapleton’s family.

The pair are now excitedly planning their 2025 wedding.

Bowel cancer is the deadliest cancer for people ages 25-44, despite the misconception it’s an “old person’s disease”.

In celebration of Valentine’s Day and in an effort to start conversations between loved ones and raise awareness, limited edition “irregular chocolates” are being launched by Bowel Cancer Australia.

Each chocolate is crafted to reflect a specific symptom of bowel cancer – while also tasting good – including jammy (blood in your poo), gooey (an obvious change in your bowel habit), airy (weight loss you can’t explain), and chunk (lump or swelling in your abdomen).

Ms Stapleston said the more people speak about bowel cancer, the better.

“The earlier we can detect it, the better – it can save a life,” she said.

“Let’s break the taboo, talk about your poo.”

For more information visit www.irregularchocolates.au/

Originally published as 37-year-old Ocean Grove woman shares bowel cancer fight, pushes for awareness