A woman has come forward to share her experience battling stage 4 bowel cancer, highlighting the four subtle symptoms she overlooked before her diagnosis.
Her story serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of recognizing early signs of this potentially preventable disease.
Bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) is one of the most common cancers, with statistics from the American Cancer Society revealing "the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 23 for men and 1 in 25 for women".
The challenge lies in the fact that bowel cancer symptoms often mimic other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For Ellie Wilcock, 25, understanding these symptoms earlier could have led to a quicker diagnosis.
Now, she has bravely shared her story in order to help others be more aware of the warning signs.
1. Persistent Pain
Ellie revealed in a TikTok video that she initially dismissed her pain as a urinary tract infection (UTI) that had spread to her kidneys. The pain wrapped around her left abdomen and pelvis.
“Number one was pain in the left-hand side of my tummy and my pelvis,” she explained.
Despite experiencing significant discomfort, her infection markers came back clear, prompting further testing. Pain in this area can be a warning sign, and seeking medical advice is crucial if it persists without explanation.
2. Fatigue
Another red flag was extreme fatigue, which Ellie initially dismissed as routine exhaustion.
“Normally I would get up, go to work, come home, then maybe go to the gym or cook dinner or see a friend,” she said. “But I was basically getting home from work and falling asleep for the rest of the evening.”
The Mayo Clinic lists unexplained "weakness or tiredness" as a primary symptom of cancer, as it can indicate underlying issues within the body.
3. Changes in Toilet Habits
Ellie admitted she didn’t initially notice changes in her bowel habits, but in hindsight, this was a major indicator of her condition.
“One I didn’t notice but in hindsight I probably had was a change in my bowel habits and blood in my poo,” she said.
Ellie emphasized that noticing blood in stool or changes in bowel movements, such as diarrhea, constipation, or unusual frequency, should never be ignored. The UK's NHS advises looking out for softer stool, red or black blood in stool, or a persistent feeling of needing to go to the bathroom.
“Check your poo. I’m such an advocate for that,” Ellie urged.
4. Weight Loss and Appetite Changes
Ellie’s fourth symptom was a lack of appetite, which occasionally caused nausea.
“On official symptoms, this goes down as an unexplained weight loss,” she said. “For me, I wasn’t actually losing weight because the lack of appetite was quite infrequent. Most of the time, my appetite was fine. But in hindsight, I remember nausea and not wanting to eat as much, because my bowel obviously wasn't normal."
Unexplained weight loss or appetite changes, even if infrequent, can be significant and warrant a conversation with a GP.
A Critical Reminder
Ellie’s experience highlights the importance of knowing the signs of bowel cancer and seeking prompt medical advice if you notice persistent symptoms.
She has since amassed thousands of followers on social media as a "your cancer bestie", as she has dedicated her time to help educate others and make them aware of symptoms that could be brushed off.
She believes recognizing the indicators sooner could have led to an earlier diagnosis, potentially before the cancer reached stage 4.
Per the NHS website, here are a list of key bowel cancer symptoms to watch for include:
- Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhea, or constipation that is not usual for you
- Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- Blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Often 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 experience any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to consult your GP. Ellie’s story is a powerful call to action: checking your health — and even your stool — can be lifesaving.
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