I was diagnosed with bowel cancer a week before my 31st birthday. I had been experiencing a range of symptoms for approximately six months including bloating, mucous in my stools, diarrhoea and bleeding.
I saw my GP who referred me for a colonoscopy. When I woke up, I was given the news that I had bowel cancer.
In medical school I was taught the symptoms of bowel cancer early on in my training. I also learned that bowel cancer is a disease of the middle aged.
I was told that anyone in their 50’s onwards with stomach or back pain, loss of weight, change in appetite or bowel habit, nausea, fatigue, sweating at night or bleeding should be investigated.