A woman who successfully battled stage three bowel cancer has issued a crucial public health warning, highlighting a 'really sneaky' aspect of the disease that caught her off guard.
The 'Sneaky' Reality of Varied Symptoms
Laura, a survivor who took to TikTok to share her story, emphasised that bowel cancer symptoms can vary dramatically from person to person. While blood in stool is widely considered a primary red flag, Laura confirmed she had no visible blood whatsoever, even after her cancer had progressed to stage three.
"So I had no blood and I had stage 3 bowel cancer," Laura stated in her video. "This is the really sneaky thing about bowel cancer - you can have none of the symptoms, you can have all of them, or just a few subtle signs."
A Diagnosis Discovered by Chance
Laura revealed that her cancer was only discovered incidentally. She attended a routine appointment to donate blood, where she was informed she had low iron levels (anaemia). This unexpected finding led to further investigations that ultimately uncovered her condition.
"You can never be too young - I was only 38," she explained, urging people not to dismiss potential signs due to their age. Her key advice is unequivocal: "Always, always get checked out by the doctor - you can never assume the blood is nothing if you see blood."
Community Response and NHS Guidance
In response to her video, other survivors shared similar experiences. One person recounted how a tumour was found only after they presented with suspected appendicitis, while another described a partner whose first sign was a near-total bowel blockage.
The NHS lists several symptoms of bowel cancer that warrant medical attention, including:
- A persistent change in bowel habit (softer stool, diarrhoea, or constipation).
- Needing to go to the toilet more or less often than usual.
- Blood in your poo, which may appear red or black.
- Unexplained abdominal pain, a lump, or bloating.
- Unintentional weight loss and fatigue or breathlessness from anaemia.
The NHS advises seeing a GP if you experience any of these symptoms for three weeks or more. They stress that you should not be embarrassed and that medical professionals are used to discussing these issues. Urgent action is required if you have black or dark red poo, bloody diarrhoea, or non-stop bleeding from your bottom.
Laura concluded with a powerful message: "It could be nothing, but you can't make that choice or that decision. So go to your GP and get checked out. Always."
