How often have you had a niggle or pain and just soldiered on, not having the time to address it? For most of us, this has been a reality at some stage, as we juggle work and caring responsibilities, alongside the myriad of other things life throws our way.
But for US gynaecologist Dr Lauren Juyia, it was two mild symptoms – feeling a ‘pelvic heaviness’ and fatigue that led to her going for an ultrasound and eventually being diagnosed with colon cancer (more commonly known as bowel cancer here in Australia).
“Having a background in obstetrics, we describe size by weeks of pregnancy and so I was like, ‘Oh my god, I have a 16-week-size mass.’ From experience, I could tell that this was my ovary,” she told Good Morning America.
The mass grew from 8cm to 24cm in the space of two weeks, prompting her to seek out a specialist.
“I had never seen anything benign, meaning not cancer, grow that fast before. So we kind of knew, deep down, that this was not going to be good. And we suspected ovarian cancer of course, because it was the ovaries being the masses.”
Although it turned out that it wasn’t ovarian cancer, and she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer when she was just 37.
“I did have a little bit of fatigue. I was a little tired in the afternoon for about two months previous to this and as a mum with two little kids – I had been recently nursing them, they were still waking up in the night, I work full time – I didn’t think anything of saying, ‘Oh, I think I need a tea in the afternoon.’ Whereas maybe someone in their 50s or 60s would be much more tired from stage 4 tumours taking up their energy,” Juyia explained.
She ended up having surgery to remove the masses that had spread to her ovaries, uterus, omentum, appendix, and abdominal area as well as six months of chemotherapy treatments. She also continued working throughout, something she said helped take her mind off her own diagnosis.
“For me, it was therapeutic to get to still be useful to my patients. When I am with someone in a patient room, I forgot I was ill. Even the nausea, I wouldn’t feel it for those 15 to 20 minutes. So for me, it was most important to try to have a normal life and try to continue to be useful.”
In Australia, it’s recommended that if you’re over 45, you’re screened for bowel cancer every two years.
“People that are younger than the screening age should still be paying attention to our symptoms because we’re not eligible for screening usually. We might not have any symptoms because we are young, our bodies are more resilient. We can tolerate more symptoms,” Juyia said.
Signs of bowel cancer
Also referred to as colorectal or colon cancer, bowel cancer often develops slowly and can initially present with subtle symptoms that people might dismiss. Here are the key signs to watch for:
Changes in bathroom habits
Persistent diarrhea, constipation, or a feeling that the bowel doesn’t empty completely can be early indicators. If your usual pattern shifts and doesn’t revert within a couple of weeks, it’s worth checking out.
Blood in your stool
This is a red flag – literally. Blood might appear bright red or darker, almost black. However, not all blood in the stool indicates cancer, but it’s always good to have it investigated.
Abdominal discomfort
Frequent cramps, gas, or pain in the abdomen can signal issues in the digestive system. These might start out as mild but can intensify over time.
Unexplained weight loss
If you’re shedding kilos without trying, it could be a sign that something is amiss. Weight loss can occur because cancer affects nutrient absorption or increases metabolism.
Fatigue and weakness
Cancer can cause anaemia, especially if there’s internal bleeding. This can lead to a constant feeling of tiredness, even if you’re well-rested.
Feeling of fullness or bloating
A constant sensation of bloating, fullness, or a blockage could indicate a growth in the bowel.
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