Tasmanian dad, 36, reveals delay in bowel cancer diagnosis after doctors dismissed symptoms as 'nothing serious'

A 36-year-old Tasmanian father, Mathew Duggan, was diagnosed with bowel cancer after months of symptoms that doctors initially dismissed as non-serious because of his age. Changes to his bowel habits began in February 2024, including diarrhoea that lasted about a month, followed by abdominal pain and blood in the stool. He recalled a similar episode in his teens after eating raw chicken and assumed this would pass. "I thought it would just go away," he told the Daily Mail. Despite seeking medical advice, he says he was reassured there was nothing serious, with doctors suggesting it might be haemorrhoids or polyps rather than cancer.

During a colonoscopy, doctors discovered a 10 cm tumour in his bowel. "The GP had told me beforehand not to worry," he said. After the procedure, the diagnosis hit hard: "I shouldn't have said that, you actually have bowel cancer." Duggan, who had no family history of the disease and considered himself healthy, said the news forced him to rethink priorities. "At 36 you're focused on work, family, your little girl. Cancer just doesn't cross your mind," he said. A major operation to remove part of his bowel followed in May 2024, and he began six months of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy proved to be the most brutal part of the ordeal. Duggan described neuropathy in his feet that was so severe there were times he felt unable to walk. "The neuropathy in my feet got so bad that there were times I wanted to cut both my legs off," he said. "It felt like someone stabbing the bottoms of my feet constantly—pins and needles, burning, just unbearable pain." The physical toll ran alongside an emotional weight as he shielded his family from the worst of what was happening.

His daughter, who had just turned three, was kept away from the hospital and chemotherapy sessions. "She didn't come with me to the hospital or see me during chemo," Duggan said. "At that age, we didn't want to expose her to it. She's been my biggest little supporter without even knowing what I was going through." Initially, only his parents and wife knew about the diagnosis because he didn’t want his life to change or have people constantly asking how he was.

While undergoing treatment, Duggan found support through groups and information from Bowel Cancer Australia and learned that a growing number of younger Australians are facing the disease. Doctors have long described bowel cancer as an 'older person’s disease,' but statistics show otherwise. Bowel Cancer Australia notes that cancer in people under 50 has been increasing for years, and it is now the deadliest cancer for those aged 25 to 34 and the second leading cause of cancer death in Australians aged 25 to 49. Specialists urge younger people to push for screening if they notice persistent changes to digestion, bowel habits, or blood in the stool—even if they are told they’re 'too young' to worry.

Today the chemotherapy is finished, but the damage lingers. The neuropathy has eased somewhat, but remains a constant reminder of his treatment. Duggan's diet has changed as well, with red meat and ultra-processed foods largely removed in favor of simple, whole meals. "I don't go a day without thinking about cancer," he said, "but I try to channel that into living better now, not worrying about the what-ifs." He expects regular scans and check-ups for years to come and cautions others not to ignore persistent symptoms.

"Your body tells you when something's wrong. Don't wait. Don't let anyone dismiss it because of your age. If I had ignored it any longer, it could have been too late," he said. The experience has shifted his perspective on health and prevention, and he's become an advocate for awareness among younger people who may assume cancer is only an older person's disease.