A woman who thought she was 'cancer proof' got the shock of her life when she was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer.
Rachel Reed was always active and took care of her health, but her healthy lifestyle sadly didn't stop her developing cancer and she was diagnosed in 2018 aged just 33.
But, after two major surgeries and chemotherapy, Rachel fortunately received the all-clear in April 2020 and has spent the last few years recovering and rebuilding her life.
Rachel, now 40, said she spent a long time pushing for investigation into her initial illness. At first, she was prescribed treatment for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and it was thought her symptoms may be a side effect of her psoriasis, biological medication or a possible food intolerance.
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"I didn’t recognise any of the symptoms. With the tiredness and the stomach pains, I wasn’t aware they were a red flag," Rachel, who lives in Pontypridd with her husband Dean and dog Sheldon, shared with Cancer Research Wales.
"Because I was quite active, I was a gym-goer, ate my five fruit and veg a day, I didn’t drink, didn’t smoke, I thought I was quite low risk of having anything like cancer. It didn’t even cross my mind so when they told me I was in utter shock."
Rachel said she's keen to share her story to help support Cancer Research Wales change lives for the better as she's aware that her life was saved thanks to advancements in treatments and interventions.
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"If I can prevent one person from being diagnosed late as I did then I am happy," she said.
"There are a lot of young people not aware that it can happen to them even if they are fit, healthy and young. I wasn’t aware of that at all. I just thought I was cancer-proof at a young age."
Other 'silent' symptoms of bowel cancer include constipation, diarrhea, or narrow stools.
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Narrow stools, for example, could be a sign that there's a tumor obstructing the colon.
Unintentional weight loss can be another symptom people with bowel cancer experience as a result of loss of appetite or tumors stopping nutrients from being absorbed.
Blood in the stool is also another key sign. Cancer Research UK explains: "Blood in your poo (stools or feces) can be a sign of bowel cancer. But it is often due to other causes. See your GP if you are worried about any symptoms that you think could be caused by cancer in the bowel."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.
Niamh Shackleton