Chloe Wakelin, a 26-year-old nursery worker, initially thought her persistent stomach aches, fatigue, and low appetite were due to a stomach bug from the children she worked with.
After two months of visiting her GP and being tested for Crohn’s disease and IBS—which came back negative—she was told it was likely a viral infection.
However, her condition worsened, and she began vomiting tar-like substance.
In January 2024, her skin turned yellow, prompting her to rush to A&E. Scans revealed a large mass in her colon, and doctors warned she was 12 hours from death due to liver and kidney failure and sepsis.
She underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumor, 25cm of her large bowel, and lymph nodes, and was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. After four rounds of chemotherapy, she was declared in remission by July.
Wakelin expressed frustration at the delayed diagnosis, urging others to seek medical advice for persistent symptoms, regardless of age. She emphasized that bowel cancer can affect anyone, even without “typical” symptoms.
The NHS lists key symptoms as persistent blood in stools, changes in bowel habits, and abdominal pain or bloating.