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Fatigue and Bloating Hid Stage 3 Rectal Cancer
7 Apr
Summary
- Symptoms like fatigue and bloating were initially dismissed as perimenopause.
- A colonoscopy revealed a large tumor, leading to a stage three rectal cancer diagnosis.
- Early detection is crucial, with 90% survival at stage one versus 10% at stage four.
Kerry Hatrill, 49, initially attributed her fatigue and bloating to perimenopause. These symptoms, along with changes in bowel habits and occasional rectal pain, were dismissed as normal signs of aging or hormonal shifts. It was only after significant bleeding in April 2024 that further tests revealed low iron anemia, prompting a colonoscopy.
During the procedure, doctors discovered a large tumor in her rectum, leading to a diagnosis of stage three rectal cancer. Bowel cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in Britain and the US, with rising cases in younger adults. While diagnoses in older adults are decreasing, rates in those under 50 are increasing.
Factors such as diet, lack of fiber, being overweight, and inactivity can increase risk. If caught early, bowel cancer is highly treatable, with a 90% survival rate at stage one. However, survival drops sharply at stage four. Hatrill underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery to treat her cancer.
Her story underscores the danger of dismissing early bowel cancer symptoms as 'women's issues,' a mistake also made by public figures like Mel Schilling and Dame Deborah James. Experts urge women not to ignore symptoms like changes in bowel habits lasting over three weeks, blood in stool, bloating, or extreme fatigue, emphasizing that early detection can be life-changing.
