59: Stoma4Life with Raphaela Reeb - Episode 5959: Stoma4Life with Raphaela Reeb - Episode 59
UK Health Radio Podcast
Raphaela shares bowel cancer facts, myths and early warning signs alongside her own diagnosis and stoma story, stressing early action and open conversation. The episode aims to offer reassurance, practical tips and hope for anyone affected by bowel cancer or living with a stoma.
26:47•31 Mar 2026
Stoma4Life: Bowel Cancer Myths, Early Signs and Life With a Stoma
Episode Overview
- Bowel cancer can affect people in their 30s, 40s and 50s, not just the elderly, so age should never be a reason to dismiss symptoms.
- A healthy lifestyle does not guarantee protection from bowel cancer; self-blame is unhelpful and early checks matter far more.
- Symptoms are often subtle and persistent changes – such as altered bowel habits, blood in stool, fatigue or a sense of not fully emptying – and should be assessed by a GP.
- Feeling embarrassed to talk about poo can delay diagnosis; normalising open conversations about bowel habits can genuinely save lives.
- Life with a stoma can bring freedom and confidence when the right products, information and support are in place, even if occasional mishaps are part of the journey.
“If you take one thing away from today's show, let it be this. You know your body. If something doesn't feel right, don't ignore it.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? In this case, the focus shifts to bowel cancer, stigma and life with a stoma. UK Health Radio’s Stoma4Life, hosted by Raphaela, offers a frank, down-to-earth chat about bowel cancer awareness month that feels more like sitting with a wise friend than a medical appointment.
Instead of medical jargon, you’ll hear clear talk about what bowel cancer is, who it affects, and why so many people still think it’s an “older person’s disease”. Raphaela runs through common myths – like believing you need a bad lifestyle to get bowel cancer, or that symptoms will be dramatic – and gently dismantles them with real stories and statistics. Her message is simple: age doesn’t give you immunity, and embarrassment about poo can be deadly.
She also shares her own journey, from subtle symptoms she put down to menopause and stress, to pushing for a colonoscopy despite a negative test and a haemorrhoid diagnosis. Her description of hearing the words “stage three bowel cancer” and waking up with a life-saving stoma is raw, honest and surprisingly hopeful. There’s even some humour as she talks about the odd mishap and how throwing away soiled trousers became a story she can now laugh about.
The style is candid, reassuring and practical, aimed at anyone worried about symptoms, supporting a loved one, or living with a stoma. You’ll hear specific signs to watch for, why journalling symptoms helps at the GP, and how the right stoma products can turn fear into freedom. At its heart, this is a message of early action, self-advocacy and community support. If you’ve been putting off that GP visit, this conversation might be the nudge that changes everything.
What is your body trying to tell you – and are you ready to listen?
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