Power of awareness: Former school mates Nick Dugmore and Alana Dales on resilience in the face of stage four cancer

Two former schoolmates, both battling stage four cancer, have revealed how they’re “thriving” in the face of the disease. Find out why.

Nick Dugmore and Alana Dales have always had deep conversations about what they’ve experienced with cancer and have a new podcast The Power of Awareness. Picture: Ben Clark

At just 39 years old, winemaker Nick ‘Duggie’ Dugmore was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Feeling scared, he posted about it on Instagram.

He didn’t know it, but a woman he went to high school with at Saint Ignatius College, Alana ‘Dalesy’ Dales, saw the post. She had been diagnosed with the same cancer only a few months prior.

Her mother Anna Dales died of it in 2009.

Nick Dugmore and Alana Dales. Picture: Ben Clark

Dalesy messaged him on Instagram: “Hey, I’m going through this if you want someone to lean on during this time, I’m here for a chat”.

“To have someone in the same boat, I mean it sucked, but it was pretty comforting,” Duggie, who lives in Willunga, said.

For Dalesy, her “quest” as she calls it, began at her sister Cass’s wedding when she noticed blood in her poo.

It wasn’t until a month later and symptoms persisted, she went to her doctor and eventually, a colonoscopy discovered a five centimetre tumour.

“I put a lot of my symptoms down to being a girl and a primary school teacher,” the now-37-year-old said.

“I was losing weight — which I loved. I was tired, I put that down to my job. I had abdominal pain, I thought that was my menstrual cycle.”

Nick Dugmore and Alana Dales both say having cancer has helped them appreciate life more. Picture: Ben Clark

In March 2023, a doctor told her, her sister and her father Ian, that she had stage four bowel cancer.

“I remember turning to them going, ‘it’ll be fine, I’ll be okay’,” Dalesy, who lives in Warradale, said.

“I just didn’t want to let anyone down … death is not an option for me.”

Since connecting with Dalesy in 2023, Duggie entered remission, but last week the cancer returned.

He has since been given the devastating news it’s spread into his lung.

“I’ve graduated to stage four,” he said.

The pair say they share a unique bond and understand each other in ways others will not be able to.

They rely on each other to anticipate what’s next in their journey, to vent about their fears and to discuss what they’ve gone through.

“You can only understand cancer if you’ve been through it,” Duggie said.

Nick Dugmore with his wife Bec. Picture: Supplied

Nick with his family, wife Bec and their children, Finlay and Flora. Picture: Supplied

Duggie and Dalesy have always had deep conversations about what they’ve experienced.

“With cancer … I love who I’ve become because of it,” Duggie said — although he wouldn’t go through it again because of what it’s put his family through.

“I’m happy I’ve been through it because it’s made me appreciate life on a whole new level and develop a whole new relationship with death as well.”

Dalesy said prior to her stage four diagnosis she was “existing ” and now she’s “thriving”.

Duggie suggested the pair co-host a podcast and The Power of Awarenesswas born.

The Power of Awarenesswill showcase a range of guests who share stories about life’s toughest experiences.

Inspired by Duggie and Dalesy’s own bowel cancer “quests”, the guests and co-hosts touch on the importance of community in their own journeys.

The first season covers a range of interviewees including great white shark survivor Chris Blowes who spoke about the moment he attended a Shark Bite Club for the first time.

“He really didn’t want to go but said it was the best thing he ever did,” Duggie said.

It was at this event Mr Blowes was able to speak to a father who lost his son to a shark attack and tell him that when he was bitten he felt no pain.

“That guy was so thankful to Chris because then he knew that his son was not in pain when he was being eaten,” Duggie said.

The official launch of the podcast will be on Saturday May 24 at Stoke Wines at Mount Jagged.

The podcast will be available on Spotify.

Originally published as Power of awareness: Former school mates Nick Dugmore and Alana Dales on resilience in the face of stage four cancer