Katie McSweeney

I have been in the unfortunate position of being a patient of bowel cancer and having lost a close loved one due to the disease. I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer aged 29 in July 2017, a week before my wedding. I experienced surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy as treatment and on the day I finished my final chemotherapy session my sister was diagnosed with the same cancer. Devastatingly, my brilliant sister passed away in December 2018-just a short 9 months after her diagnosis. After genetic tests we were both identified as having Lynch Syndrome, a gene mutation which predisposes us to certain cancers. I am passionate about turning my negative experiences into something that might be beneficial for others. As a member of the BCI UK Public-Patient Group I will strive to be a voice for young people with bowel cancer.