Having colorectal cancer at the age of 28 (Laurie’s story)

March 1, 2011

In this video, Laurie talks about having colorectal cancer as a young adult, how she coped and cancer’s effects on her fertility and her career

Watch as Laurie talks about being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, stage 3 at the age of 28. She discusses what it’s like being diagnosed with cancer as a young adult, how cancer affected her ability to have children and how it gave her short-term memory loss from “chemo brain.”

She also talks about the challenges of starting her first job as a kindergarten teacher right before starting six months of chemotherapy. She shares the importance of humour and being your own advocate.

Laurie lives in Ottawa, Ontario and works as a school teacher. At the time of the interview, she was a six-year survivor of colorectal cancer.

Being normal? What is that for me right now? Before I was diagnosed to right now, I’m a completely different person, inside and out.

Watch the video of Laurie talking about having colorectal cancer at age 28

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer works with our partners to make sure adolescents and young adults (AYA) who are either living with or are survivors of cancer as children, adolescents or young adults, experience improved outcomes and quality of life. Our goal is to deliver quick, equal access to the best care both during and after cancer treatment. That care should be based on education and research to improve health outcomes and quality of life, and to eliminate current disparities around AYA cancer care.

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