More than a gut feeling: Cale’s story

Name: Flinders Foundation
Address: 3 Flinders Drive, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, AU
Telephone: (08) 8204 5216
Price range: $

Posted 30 Jan 2026

Cancer

At 29, Cale was busy getting on with life — working full-time and planning for the future. He never imagined cancer would be part of his story.

Like many young adults, Cale believed cancer was something that happened to other people, later in life.

“I thought young people were invincible,” he said.
“I was wrong.”

When something didn’t feel right

It started with stomach cramps. Then frequent trips to the bathroom — eight or nine times during a shift. At first, Cale brushed it off. Maybe it was food. Lactose intolerance. Gluten. Stress.

Even when he stopped eating and drank only water, the symptoms didn’t stop.

“I just knew something wasn’t right.”

Encouraged by his family and workplace, Cale went to the doctor — only to be told he was too young, and needed to change his diet. But his instinct told him otherwise.

So he pushed for further tests.

That decision changed everything.

“Cale, you have a tumour”

After a colonoscopy in October 2023, Cale was asked to return to hospital with his partner. Sitting in a doctor’s office, he heard the words no 29-year-old expects.

“Cale, you have a tumour.”
“I turned to my wife and asked, ‘What does that mean?’ even though I knew exactly what it meant,” he recalls. “I just couldn’t fathom that it was happening to me.”

Friends and family struggled to believe it too. Sharing the news felt surreal — met with silence, disbelief, and shock.

Wiping the stigma when it comes to talking crap

Cale’s sharing his story as part of a bold and cheeky campaign, The Bowel Movement, encouraging South Australians to talk crap and take charge of their bowel health.

Before cancer, talking about bowel health wasn’t exactly dinner-table conversation for Cale.

But now?

“Everyone poos. It’s natural,” Cale says. “Don’t be afraid. Be honest with yourself and others.”
His cheeky advice?
“Most of you talk crap all day anyway — it’s probably best to check it too.”

The crappy truth

Bowel cancer is Australia’s second biggest cancer killer. Butt, 90% of cases can be treated successfully if caught early. The problem? People find it awkward to talk about their poo.  

Uptake of existing screening tests is only about 40%, meaning many more lives could be saved. If we can increase this to 60%, we could save 84,000 lives by 2040.

It might feel awkward, butt starting a conversation about bowel health could help save your life – or someone else’s.

Looking back, Cale knows how important getting a cheeky check is.

“You are never too young to be tested. If you don’t feel right — get checked.”
“There’s no harm in doing a test, they’re there to protect you… it’s better to tackle it early like I did.”

A reason to change the future

In early 2025, Cale welcomed his son, Archie.

“Being here to see my son be born… after everything — that’s something I’ll never take for granted.”

Fatherhood has changed everything. It’s why Cale is determined to stay on top of his health. Why he wants bowel cancer conversations to be louder, easier, and stigma-free.

“I want to be here when he’s learning to drive. When we’re kicking the footy. I want better systems in place for his generation.”

The Bowel Movement is your chance to change the future

The Bowel Movement is a cheeky campaign backed by Flinders Foundation and Who Gives a Crap encouraging South Australians to talk crap and take charge of their bowel health – raising awareness about the importance of early bowel cancer detection and empowering improved health outcomes.  

You can join the movement today by taking the free bowel screening test (for eligible Australians) or just talking crap and helping to wipe the stigma.

However you choose to join the movement, your support will help to shape the future of bowel health in South Australia and beyond.