Shae was in the best shape of his life. Then came the diagnosis no one expected.

When Shae was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in July 2023, it came just weeks after his 37th birthday.

He had spent months training for a qualifying position at the UCI gravel cycling race in Nannup. As he shared at the time, “I was in some of the best shape of my life. The last thing on my or anyone else’s mind was that I might have cancer.”

For his wife, Dr Audra Walsh, who is a veterinary pathologist, the signs didn’t seem serious at first.

“We just thought it was haemorrhoids,” she said. “He was otherwise healthy. No weight loss. Nothing that really raised alarm bells.”

It was only after she encouraged him to see a GP that he was referred for further testing. A colonoscopy revealed a 10cm rectal mass.

Shae initially underwent 28 consecutive rounds of radiation and 8 rounds of chemotherapy. Restaging scans showed no evidence of disease.

For a moment, there was relief.

“We thought he was cured,” said Dr Walsh.

But in May 2024, a PET scan showed lung metastases. His diagnosis was revised to stage 4.

Over the next two years, Shae underwent multiple rounds of treatment.

Throughout it all, Shae remained focused on what mattered most.

“As a father of a 6-year-old, that’s all I want… more time with my son,” he said.

Shae researched treatment options, asked questions, and pushed for approaches that aligned with his priorities, including his quality of life.

“You have to advocate for yourself,” Dr Walsh said. “That’s what it comes down to.”

One of the most confronting parts of Shae’s story is how unexpected it was.

“He was super fit. Didn’t smoke. Maybe had a drink once every couple of weeks,” Dr Walsh said. “He was the epitome of someone who took care of himself.”

“It can happen to any of us.”

Clinicians are also seeing an increase in bowel cancer in younger people, though the reasons are still not fully understood.

In Australia, around 1 in 9 new bowel cancer cases are diagnosed in people under 50, according to Bowel Cancer Australia.

Looking back, there is one message Dr Walsh wants others to hear.

“It’s not worth it,” she said.

“A minor inconvenience to have a negative result is better than a shortened life.”

“He always said he should have got it checked earlier,” she said. “We just didn’t know.”

Shae passed away on 22 February 2026 after battling for 8-months with brain metastasis.

Even during his illness, he was determined to make a difference.

“Even if it can prevent a single person, that’s still better than nothing,” Dr Walsh said.

His story is now helping to raise awareness of bowel cancer in younger Australians, and the importance of acting on symptoms early.

If something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait.

Talk to you doctor and advocate for yourself. It could save your life.

For more information visit www.bowelcanceraustralia.org