A WOMAN has recalled the moment she was told she had bowel cancer at the age of 35 after experiencing persistent tiredness.
Andrea Robinson, 43, from Basingstoke, was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in November 2016.
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Because she had ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, doctors told the executive assistant her symptoms were down to flare-ups.
“I look back at pictures from when I was poorly, before I was diagnosed, and I have sick eyes,” says Andrea.
“I looked really ill and I remember feeling constantly exhausted.
“I’d take myself off to the toilet during work just to sit down and have a rest.
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“I went to the GP and was told it was flare ups but one weekend I went to the toilet and lost around a pint of blood.”
Blood in stool or the toilet and fatigue are key signs of bowel cancer, as well as changes in bowel habits (constipation/diarrhoea), weight loss and pain.
Andrea says: “I went straight to A&E and was given a colonoscopy and had a biopsy.
“I was kept in hospital and three days later, I was told I had bowel cancer.”
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in England, diagnosed 44,000 times in the UK each year.
Four in ten cases are in people over the age of 75. But those under 50 get the disease too.
Cancer in under-50s has been rising since the 1990s, including bowel, cervical, prostate, breast and womb cancer.
Andrea said: “I remember the doctor and nurse coming in and the nurse picking up some tissues that were in the room which was a sign it was bad news.
“The doctor told me it ‘wasn’t good news’ before saying I had cancer.
“It felt so surreal, like I was looking down on myself being given the news.”
Andrea was the same age as Sun columnist Dame Deborah James when she received her diagnosis – at the time, she was a married teacher and mum of two.
Deborah died from the disease in 2022 at just 40 years old after spending five years raising awareness of the disease.
Andrea says: “The doctor was optimistic they could treat it with surgery and he explained I’d have chemotherapy afterwards.
“I was told I’d need a stoma which felt really upsetting but I knew it was a necessity.
“My treatment wasn’t plain sailing, I had a lot of hospital admissions and I had stoma-related blockages which meant I was in and out of hospital a lot.”
Andrea will have a stoma forever. But thankfully, she is cancer free.
She says: “Stomas are a life-changer and a life-saver so they’re difficult because you’re thankful for it. But you don’t want it at the same time.
“I’m now grateful for it because I’m still here.”
It comes as harrowing scenes in Hollyoaks were played by actress Jennifer Metcalfe, 41, whose character Mercedes McQueen has been diagnosed with bowel cancer and told she could have just 12 months to live.
Andrea says: “Bowel cancer isn’t a sexy cancer but the fact it’s affecting a young, glamorous, sexy woman on a TV show is a really important message because it can affect anyone.
“People don’t like talking about poos and bums, they’re a taboo subject and like Dame Debs said, bowel cancer is the brown cancer.
“Looking back I knew something was wrong so I’d urge anyone reading this to get to know your body and your stools.
“Know what’s normal for you and don’t settle for being fobbed off if you’re not happy with what you’re being told. Your life could depend on it.”
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The signs of bowel cancer you need to know – remember BOWEL
- B:Bleeding
There are several possible causes of bleeding from your bottom, of blood in your poo.
Bright red blood could come from swollen blood vessels, haemorrhoids or piles, in your back passage.
Dark red or black blood could come from your bowel or stomach.
Blood in your stools is one of the key signs of bowel cancer, so it’s important to mention it to your doctor so they can investigate.
2. O: Obvious change in loo habits
It’s important to tell your GP if you have noticed any changes in your bowel habits, that lasts three weeks or longer.
It’s especially important if you have also noticed signs of blood in your poo.
You might notice you need to go to the loo more often, you might have looser stools or feel like you’re not going enough or fully emptying your bowels.
Don’t be embarrassed, your GP will have heard a lot worse! Speak up and get it checked.
3. W: Weight loss
This is less common than the other symptoms, but an important one to be aware of. If you’ve lost weight and don’t really know why, it’s worth mentioning to your GP.
You may not feel like eating, feel sick, bloated and not hungry.
4. E: Extreme tiredness
Bowel cancer that causes bleeding can cause a lack of iron in the body – anaemia. If you develop anaemia you’re likely to feel tired and your skin might look pale.
5. L: Lump or pain
As with lots of other forms of cancer, a lump or pain can be a sign of bowel cancer.
It’s most likely you’ll notice a pain or lump in your stomach or back passage.
See your GP if it doesn’t go away, or if it affects how you eat or sleep
