Lauren F’s story

Hi I’m Lauren, a 38 year old with two beautiful children ages 3 & 5 years old. My story started 3 months ago on the 12th October 2022 by feeling not quite right. I went to my GP and was told I was depressed and had gastro. After weeks I still was not right so I went back and asked for full bloods to be done. I googled a lot and came up with I might be anaemic, as that matched all my symptoms.

Blood tests revealed yes, I was severely anaemic and a few other issues too. GP said go straight to the ED and they can investigate further.

I was messed around essentially. Why are you here? GP should have sent you for tests but not to the ED. I waited 10 hours and finally I was offered a choice. You can have a CT but the wait is hours or you can return to your GP and book tests. I chose to wait and 15 minutes later I was having the scan. 10 minutes after that a very official looking Dr called me and led me to a private room. He asked if I wanted someone with me. I said no just tell me what’s going on!!! He answered I’m afraid you have a large tumour in your bowel and it’s cancer!!!!

From there I was transported to another hospital and put on a million antibiotics, iron infusions, a liquid diet, a million people standing at the end of my bed telling me I have stage 4 bowel cancer that has spread to my liver and we can’t operate as the tumour is too big.  It measured 11cm and 5cm in the liver. We are going to start you on chemotherapy within the week and we will do a biopsy more CT scans and bloods.

Wow. What a ride! At first I cried. I couldn’t speak or focus. What about my kids? They are too young, my partner, my family, this is not real.  But it was and I am now 6 rounds into my chemotherapy and each round gets harder and my good days shorter. I have my 3mth scan at the end of December to see if the chemotherapy is working to reduce the tumours.

I am positive it’s not my time, and I’m fighting this!

If something doesn’t feel right keep pushing. Ask for the tests and scans. It’s better to be safe, especially young people as being young does not make you immune and we are often overlooked and told we have something completely different.

I never had Bowel issues and still don’t so be aware of your body as we only have one.

2026 Update

My story starts in October 2022 after which I had a CT scan and I received the diagnosis, very unexpectedly may I add, that I had bowel cancer at the age of 38 in advanced stage as it had spread to my liver.

That was the beginning of my journey into, first of all, making it through that diagnosis and then actually surviving it.

I was told it was inoperable and incurable and was told it was Stage 4 and my time was limited.

My only option at the time was chemo and that was tough, but it did the job. Six months and countless chemo cycles and hospital visits later, I was told the tumour in my bowel had reduced enough in size to operate.

I have never been more excited about an operation in my life.

I think I practically skipped into the hospital. The bowel resection went well and no bag required which I was grateful for, but once I was in recovery, my bowel went to sleep and stopped working so that led to more time spent in hospital away from my two children and family.

I survived and healed well and was told I could also have a liver resection in a few months’ time, which again I was excited about. I remember thinking how lucky am I to even get the chance to have these operations to save my life.

Six months later I had the liver resection where they removed 80% of my liver in an open surgery. The surgeon spoke to me afterwards and revealed all went well and all cleared margins.

Then a call with my oncologist gave me news I never thought I would hear ‘Lauren you are NED’ (no evidence of disease). So, I had gone from Stage 4 inoperable incurable to NED. Well, I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing that was. But after the all clear, life does not go back to pre-cancer. You are in a little bubble, so grateful to be alive, but also unsure what to do next. For me I still had many appointments to attend such as CT scans and blood tests every three months for two years, which makes it hard to truly be free from worry. As every time you wait for results you think is this it?

Currently I will be 3 years NED in June of 2026 and I have just undergone what I hope to be my last surgery which was an open hernia repair due to previous surgeries.

I have really been focused on health and fitness as I was given a second chance and want to live the best life possible. I am booked in for two half marathons this year and hoping to compete in my first HYROX and few other things on the list. My body fought hard to live so I’ll take all opportunities that come my way.

I still live with side effects daily but it’s a small price to pay to live my life and watch my kids grow. I still have scans and blood tests which have moved to six monthly now and I’m still monitored by my oncologist and bowel surgeon which is great for my peace of mind.

I will never forget my struggles but I believe I was given a gift through this whole experience and that’s knowing what’s important in my life and how lucky each and every one of us is to just exist in this world. I’ll keep kicking goals and moving forward, and if it does come back, I’ll be ready.

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My one piece of advice:

Life and health truly are a gift. Hold those close to you closer and don’t sweat the little things. They are really not that important.