61: Stoma4Life with Raphaela Reeb - Episode 61
61: Stoma4Life with Raphaela Reeb - Episode 61

UK Health Radio Podcast

Raphaela talks with bowel cancer survivor and ostomate Gillian Matthew about spotting early symptoms, permanent stoma surgery and life after treatment. Their conversation covers practical tips, work, support networks and the emotional journey of turning a frightening diagnosis into a hopeful new chapter.

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44:24•21 Apr 2026

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Bowel Cancer, Rosie the Stoma and Life After Surgery with Gillian Matthew

Episode Overview

Blood in poo and changes in bowel habits should be checked early, even if you still feel generally well.
Colonoscopies and prompt GP referrals can lead to earlier, more treatable bowel cancer diagnoses.
A permanent stoma can become a normal, manageable part of life, helped by acceptance, routine and sometimes even giving it a name.
Small practical changes such as hooks, shelves and mirrors in accessible toilets make a huge difference for people with a stoma.
Emotional support from charities, peer communities and centres like Maggie’s can be as important as the medical treatment itself.

“"If a diagnosis like ours is presented to you, it is not the end of the world. It can be the beginning of a new life, a new outlook on life."”

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety and serious illness at the same time? This conversation on UK Health Radio’s *Stoma4Life* brings together bowel cancer awareness, life with a permanent colostomy, and the quiet bravery of getting on with your day. Host Raphaela chats with guest Gillian Matthew, who was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in her late 40s during the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gillian talks through the first subtle signs – blood in her poo, changes in bowel habits, and unexplained fatigue – and how acting quickly, backed by a thorough GP, led to urgent tests and surgery. Her story keeps circling back to one core message: early detection can make all the difference.

You’ll hear exactly what it felt like to see her tumour on the colonoscopy screen, to wake up from major surgery with a permanent stoma, and to face chemotherapy while her new “Rose”-shaped stoma was still settling down. The way Gillian describes naming her stoma “Rosie” and learning to see it as “just a normal part of my body” gives a gentle, human spin to something many people dread.

The chat moves into everyday practicalities too: returning to work, worrying about leaks, and pushing for simple but vital changes like hooks, shelves and mirrors in accessible toilets. Gillian explains how Colostomy UK’s resources and Facebook community helped her, how she came to write for their *Tidings* magazine, and how she became an ambassador for ostomy-care company Dansac after convex bags finally stopped her leaks.

There’s also space for the emotional side: the delayed shock after treatment, finding support at Maggie’s centres, and learning to be kind to a body that’s been through trauma. If you’re facing bowel symptoms, a possible diagnosis, or life with a stoma, this honest, warm conversation might be exactly what you need to feel less alone. What would it change for you if you treated a stoma as a new chapter rather than an ending?

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