“Lost in Diagnosis: How Missed Symptoms Led to a Shocking Stage Four Colon Cancer Battle”

Navigating health discussions can be a bit of a minefield, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like bowel cancer. Sure, it might not be the most glamorous subject at dinner parties, but let’s face it—ignoring the signs can have serious repercussions. Bowel cancer, which often flies under the radar, now claims the unfortunate title of the second largest killer in the UK—only behind lung cancer! In recent years, there’s been an alarming spike in cases among younger individuals, with stats showing one in every twenty cases occurs in patients under 50. But why are we waiting until it’s potentially too late to address our symptoms? One Australian woman’s journey serves as a stark reminder that early detection is key. Let’s dive into her story and see why we really should be paying more attention to our gut feelings—literally! LEARN MORE.

Warning: This article contains discussion of cancer which some readers may find distressing.

Bowel cancer, also known as colon cancer, is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths in the UK behind lung cancer.

According to Cancer Research UK last year, the UK experienced the fourth-fastest rise in early onset bowel cancer (3.6 per cent) from 2017, with statistics showing that one in every twenty bowel cancer cases happened to a person under the age of 50.

One woman from Australia, who’s symptoms were initially dismissed by a doctor before receiving her stage 4 diagnosis, has raised the important reminder of ‘early detection’.

Bowel cancer rates are increasing annually (Getty Stock Images)

What is colon cancer?

Colon cancer is cancer that’s found anywhere in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum.

“How serious bowel cancer is depends on how big the cancer is, if the cancer has spread, and your general health.” the NHS states.

According to Bowel Cancer UK, roughly 44,000 people are diagnosed with the disease every year in the UK, and notably, the number of cases are increasing amongst adults between 20 and 50-years-old.

Tess’ diagnosis

Tess has issued a warning (TikTok/@thegreenthumbmum)

Tess, a content creator from Australia, started to notice warning signs 10 months before she was diagnosed when she experienced ‘extreme stomach cramping’.

According to the mum-of-two, it was ‘mild’ at the start before leaving her ‘to the point where she would be on the floor in the fetal position’ due to the pain.

Although her blood test didn’t reveal any cancer, other symptoms were noted, such as:

• Low iron
• Anaemic
• Blood in her stool
• ‘Thin’ and ‘small’ stool

Tess told her TikTok (@thegreenthumbmum) followers in a video: “A lot of these symptoms got put down to postpartum, I was 18 months postpartum when I started to go to the doctor about these symptoms.

“So that’s why a lot of it was kind of washed under the bridge.”

In her comments, she further explained that because she’d had haemorrhoids, her doctor didn’t perform a colonoscopy as it was ‘assumed it was due to those’:

“It ended up being both. My gastro told me I was ‘overreacting’ when I said I thought it might be cancer and that I was probably just constipated.” Tess said. “He then did the colonoscopy and was pretty embarrassed. Keep seeing doctors until someone listens.”

Her advice for anyone experiencing concerning symptoms is to urge your GP for a colonoscopy, as they can directly visualise and remove potentially cancerous polyps, as well as a blood test.

Other symptoms of colon cancer

The mum explained that ‘there are other symptoms as well’, adding that it ‘might present in each person differently’.

According to the NHS, other symptoms of bowel cancer may include:

• Changes in your pooing habits
• Bleeding from your bottom
• Feeling like you need to poo even if you’ve just been to the toilet
• Tummy pain
• A lump in your tummy
• Bloating
• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling very tired for no reason

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.