Samantha Bulloch was enjoying her 20s and given just three years to live after doctors found life-threatening tumors had spread to her colon, liver and right lung during a routine blood test.
On February 28, the healthy and fit library assistant's world was turned upside down after she was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer which had spread to her organs.
In January, Samantha, from Sydney, visited her GP for a blood test to check her iron levels, which led to the discovery of cancer.
“I don't drink, I don't smoke, I'm not overweight, I don't eat processed meat, I barely eat red meat and I don't have a family history of colon cancer – it just didn't make sense,” Samantha, now 29, told FEMAIL.
Her symptoms included “random” fatigue, occasional bloating and some blood spots in 2020, which she attributed to stress. She also experienced severe pain in her shoulder before her test.
At this point, she will remain in treatment every two weeks indefinitely. If the cancer had gone undetected, she believes doctors would have had few options to help her.
Samantha Bulloch was enjoying her late 20s and given just three years to live after doctors found life-threatening tumors had spread to her colon, liver and right lung during a routine blood test
“I don't drink, I don't smoke, I'm not overweight, I don't eat processed meat, I barely eat red meat and I don't have a family history of colon cancer – it just didn't make sense,” Samantha, now 29, told FEMAIL
“I thought I was fit and healthy!” I've always had iron problems, but never gave it much thought. One day at work I was much more tired than usual and had to sit down because I was so exhausted,” she said.
“I thought 'that's weird' but assumed it was because I had started a new job, was low on iron and was getting into something completely different. It was also just before Christmas and everyone is always tired at the end of the year.”
That's why she made the responsible decision to see her doctor in January 2023.
The blood test results confirmed that she was anemic, but also revealed something unexpected: her liver enzymes were “three times above normal.”
The GP made an appointment for an ultrasound scan of Samantha's liver, which revealed “non-specific lesions” and a mass. The report also listed a number of possible diseases, including cancer.
“When I saw it, I thought it was a death sentence,” she said.
A week later, the results of a CT scan confirmed Samantha's worst fears: a tumor was growing in her sigmoid colon and had spread to her liver and right lung.
A blood test confirmed she was anemic, but the results also showed something unexpected: her liver enzymes were “three times above normal.”
“I thought, 'How can I live with tumors growing in my body without me knowing about it?'” “It was wild for me,” she said.
“I remember at that appointment with my GP and my dad thinking, “It’s over, they’re going to tell me there’s nothing they can do.”
“I knew how bad it was and that really scared me.”
The tumor in her colon was 6cm, the two in her liver were 8cm and the tumor in her right lung was 1.5cm. She also has a number of small tumors in her liver that cannot be measured.
The life-changing news shook Samantha to her core and at first she thought: “I can't do this, I don't want to do this, I'm not strong enough for this.”
“I didn't even want to try, but somehow I put on my big girl pants and went to the next appointment. The first few months were so up and down emotionally – I couldn’t stop crying on the first day of treatment.”
The tumor in her colon was 6 cm, the two tumors in her liver were 8 cm, and the tumor in her right lung was 1.5 cm. She also has a number of small tumors in her liver that cannot be measured
Samantha said in 2020 she experienced a little bleeding during bowel movements – but didn't think it was a concern. At that time, it was the beginning of the pandemic, so it was difficult to see a doctor.
“It went on and on for a few months, and when it finally resolved itself, I forgot about it,” she said.
At the end of 2022, she reported experiencing pain, bloating and irregular bowel movements. These symptoms are often dismissed as stress.
“Earlier this year I also had the worst pain in my right shoulder – it was unbearable, I had tears in my eyes.” “I went to the doctor who told me to take some Panadol because I might have just pulled a muscle “I have contracted it,” she said.
The pain went away after about a week, but strangely it turned out that the pain was due to the tumors in her liver.
“After I had my first liver biopsy, the pain in my right shoulder returned and the doctor told me that this could happen because a nerve is located right where the liver is,” she explained.
“So when something presses on that nerve, the nerve becomes irritated and you feel the pain in your right shoulder, which made so much sense.”
Fortunately, after starting chemotherapy in March, all of the tumors became smaller (pictured with friends)
Two days after the diagnosis, she met with an oncologist and “barely remembers the conversation” because of the serious, life-changing news, bawling her eyes out.
But the oncologist had a plan of attack.
Instead of undergoing surgery first, doctors decided to use chemotherapy to shrink the tumors.
Samantha began treatment on March 31 and has had visits every two weeks since then. By her sixth chemotherapy session, the tumors had shrunk significantly.
At her last check-up in early October, she discovered that the colon tumor had “collapsed” – meaning it was lying flat against the colon wall.
The tumor in the lungs can no longer be measured as it is now too small and one in the liver is under 2cm and the other under 3cm.
“So far I have responded very positively to the treatment – better than my doctor expected,” she said. “It really was a miracle and I’m so glad it worked so well.”
Until a few weeks ago, Samantha thought she was already nine months along in those two to three years, but the doctor assured her that “it doesn't quite work that way.”
She explained that after each examination, the clock restarts based on the scans. Time does not restart with the diagnosis, but with the last scan.
This news came as a sigh of relief for Samantha, who feels she has been given extra time.
However, there is still a risk that this could change at any time. Luckily, Samantha has the first treatment option available.
When she was diagnosed, the doctor said she probably only had 12 months to live if treatment didn't work. But if it works, she will probably have another two to three years to live. This time will be reset at each check-up if the treatment continues to work
At this stage she will need treatment for the rest of her life as the tumors would grow back if doctors stopped treatment.
“My doctor told me if the treatment doesn't work, it will be less than 12 months.” “If it works, I hope to give you two to three years,” she said.
“My mother died of breast cancer when I was ten years old. The cancer started in stage one or two and then progressed to stage four. It was very aggressive and went to her liver, then she went downhill very quickly.
“That’s why I associate liver cancer with really bad news, because I’ve seen it firsthand.”
As for the cause of the cancer, unfortunately it was a coincidence and a case of bad luck. There is nothing Samantha could have done differently to stop the tumors from growing.
“I surprised myself with the fact that I did it [the ability to do this] and push through. “I was able to come to terms with and accept that I have cancer,” she continued.
“If you had told me last year that I would be diagnosed with cancer and that I would actually be okay emotionally, I wouldn't have believed you. 'You'll be surprised at what you can do.'
Luckily, she experienced minimal side effects other than fatigue throughout the treatment.
But the immunotherapy left her with an acne-like rash that covered her entire body, including her scalp and tongue.
“The doctor said my rash was the worst they'd ever seen, but it's a sign that the treatment is working. “I found comfort in that,” she said.
Unfortunately, what caused the cancer was coincidence and bad luck. There is nothing Samantha could have done differently to stop the tumors from growing
What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the colon or rectum. It is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide.
Colon cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages. Regular check-ups are important to detect the disease early and start treatment.
The most common symptoms include:
- Changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation or strictures of stools
- Blood in the stool (rectal bleeding), either bright red or dark and tarry •
- Abdominal cramps, pain, or bloating that doesn't go away
- unexplained weight loss that occurs suddenly and loses weight without trying
- Despite getting enough rest, you constantly feel tired and lacking energy
- Iron deficiency anemia due to chronic bleeding, causing fatigue, weakness and pallor
Source: WHO
Despite the terrible diagnosis and prognosis Samantha has received, she feels “fitter, stronger and better” than ever before.
“One of the girls at work pointed this out to me.” She told me, “You have so much more life and vibrancy in you, you seem so much stronger than when I first met you, than everyone that started,” Samantha recalled.
She also feels confident because she has her youth on her side to fight against the deadly cancer and recover quickly from the treatment.
To stay fit and healthy, she walks 5 km every day and eats fresh, clean foods.
“I don't look like a cancer patient either – you can't tell I'm sick,” she said, adding: “I've also tried to keep life as normal as possible.”
“I heard the phrase, 'Everyone is finished, I just have it in writing,' and that really changed my mindset.” That's it, that's the life you have and it can change for anyone at any time , as was the case for me.
“Right now, other than the cancer, I'm healthy enough to do things and I'm maximizing that like you have no idea.”
“I spend as much time as possible with the people I love and doing the things I love because I know that’s the most important thing.”
“I don't want to get to the point where I'm so sick that I'm bedridden and then start thinking, 'Why haven't I done things I enjoy before?'” “I want to make sure that I live as fully as possible.”
Samantha also encourages everyone to take ownership of their health and stay in touch with their body to notice any changes.
“If something feels uncomfortable or you are unsure, seek medical attention,” she said.
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