Krystal Maeyke’s life changed on 30 May 2023 when she was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. Before that, she had brushed off intense stabbing pains as possible food intolerance, believing it couldn’t be serious since she exercised regularly and ate healthily. The pain eventually became so severe she had to be flown by air ambulance to Alice Springs Hospital, where even morphine couldn’t ease it—only fentanyl helped.

At the hospital, Krystal was told the cancer had already spread throughout her abdomen, liver, ovaries, and bowel. She later realized that the stabbing pains she’d felt over the previous weeks were likely signs of the cancer spreading. She had also ignored other symptoms such as extreme tiredness (which she blamed on being a busy mum), irregular bowel movements (which she thought might be IBS), and night sweats (which she attributed to the Australian heat).

Before her passing earlier this year, Krystal used social media to warn others not to ignore persistent symptoms. She shared how a lump she discovered—initially thought to be a lymph node—was actually a tumor almost blocking her bowel. In her own words, “Cancer hurts,” and she never imagined such a serious illness was silently spreading through her body.

Krystal set up a GoFundMe to provide financial support for her son, Maison, and her family. As bowel cancer cases rise among younger people, her story serves as a warning: even those living seemingly healthy lifestyles are at risk. The NHS urges anyone experiencing symptoms such as changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, bleeding, abdominal pain, or unexplained fatigue to seek medical help immediately.