On 14th May 2020 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Bowel Cancer. A week later I underwent surgery that successfully removed a tumour the size of my hand from my bowel. Unfortunately it had metastasized to my liver and my lungs.

I spent the next 14 days in hospital during Covid lockdown and then straight into 6 months of chemotherapy treatment. We were able to reduce the tumours slightly.

A second round of chemo over 15 sessions ended in November 2021 with minimal change to the cancers.

In December 2021 I started testing to be eligable to go onto a clinical trial which was starting in January 2022 which I was accepted for at Monash Hospital.

After 6 months and some positive results a CT scan revealed that one of the cancers in my liver had grown and 2 new cancers in my liver had appeared.

As a result I was taken off the trial.

On a positive note a new trial was already underway based around immunotrherapy treatment and I met all of the criteria to be accepted onto this trial. My first treatment was on the 25th July 202, 8 weeks later and the first scan had revealed further growth of the tumours so i had to go off the trial and back onto chemo.

1st session of Chemo was 27th September and 4 sessions later the tumours were still growing so I had to come off the chemo.

Perfect timing but a different trial is already underway and I have managed to secure a place on that. I start on Monday 12th December.

My Mantra from the minute I was diagnosed was all about STRENGTH; mental, physical and emotional. These words have carried me through since day one and every morning they motivate me for the challenges ahead. This Mantra is the reason why I have launched these t-shirts.

This is not just all about living with cancer. There are people out there who are worse off than me fighting mental health issues, struggling emotionally with Covid lockdowns and physical challenges in their lives being health or other disabilities. These four powerful words hopefully will be able to help those in need of support or add strength to spur themselves on.

They are words used daily by different people in various contexts and all have meaning important to them but this is MY message and MY interpretation.

With a huge focus on Mental Health and Cancer awareness and prevention at the moment and whether you are personally suffering, supporting someone in need or just want to share my Mantra please get on board and buy a t-shirt to spread this message of strength within the community.

I am now also taking these words and my Mantra to schools, businesses, sporting groups and associations in "the next level" of support and sharing that I can offer from my experiences to try and make a difference.

The Next Level

Scott Macrae