Sarah’s Story
Sarah
Age at diagnosis: 38
Symptoms: Tiredness, unpredictable bowel habit, frequent diarrhoea,
put down to food allergies or irritable bowel
Duration of symptoms: 2 years
Diagnosis: Stage 3 upper rectal cancer
Treatments: Chemoradiotherapy, excisional surgery followed by Folfox chemotherapy.
My story: I noticed blood intermittently for three weeks before going to the doctor. After diagnosis, I learnt about the symptoms of bowel cancer, and realised I had actually been experiencing symptoms for about two years which had been put down to other factors.
I’m now fit and healthy, but when young women experience bowel cancer it affects more than just their bowel. I lost my fertility. I had to have a hysterectomy and I went into early menopause.