A cancer survivor has revealed the three ‘subtle’ symptoms she experienced during her battle with the disease.
Lauren Juyia, a certified gynaecologist and stage 4 colon cancer survivor, shared her experience on Instagram. Colon cancer falls under the category of bowel cancer and affects thousands of people every year.
Stage 4 cancer, like Lauren’s, indicates that the disease had metastasised, meaning it had spread to other parts of her body. Lauren has overcome the disease but described her symptoms as “really subtle,” despite being diagnosed at a late stage.
In an Instagram reel, she said: “They were not ever something where you would say, ‘Oh my God, something really bad is happening’. They blended into the things that were happening in my life as a mom of a three and a five-year-old, working full-time.”
Below are the subtle colon cancer symptoms Lauren experienced.
Feeling tired
She explained: “I was tired, like just needed a tea in the afternoon but I also woke up in the morning still exhausted.” Cancer Research UK identifies fatigue, along with breathlessness, as a potential symptom of bowel cancer caused by a lower-than-normal level of red blood cells.
It can also be a symptom of other cancers, as well as various other conditions. The NHS notes that some cancer symptoms “can be harder to notice,” and fatigue may be one of these.
It advises speaking to a GP if you feel something isn’t right or if you continually feel tired and unwell without knowing why.
Blood in stools
Lauren mentioned that she had a “little bit of blood” in her stools, which she had noticed “just a couple of times over the year prior,” roughly three times in total. The cancer survivor described the quantity of blood as “enough that you would just think it’s haemorrhoids.”
Notably, the NHS states that blood in your stools, appearing red or even black, could be indicative of several types of cancer, including colon cancer.
Changes in weight
Regarding changes in her weight, Lauren recalled not experiencing “weight loss like people would picture” since her weight was already “wasn’t stable,” having been “pregnant and breastfeeding for so long.” She did, however, find that she needed to consume more food to maintain her current weight.
Unexplained weight loss can signal various forms of cancer as well as other health problems or stress, so it’s critical to consult your GP if this symptom is observed. Lauren has shared her experiences through an Instagram reel that has attracted 198,000 views, nearly 1,000 likes, and many comments.
Her post is accompanied by the caption: “Sneaky cancer symptoms so easily explained away. If you have ANY blood in your poo, see a doctor. It’s not alarmist. Who cares if it’s just haemorrhoids like I thought? At least you’d know.”
Lauren emphasises the seriousness of such symptoms by sharing: “By the time I had any symptoms my cancer was really advanced. I’m just lucky we found it before it was in my liver or lungs.”
One commenter revealed their own battle with cancer, saying: “I didn’t have colon cancer but ovarian, it was subtle and felt like I had a cyst before. Found out I have lynch syndrome.”
Another user expressed gratitude to Lauren for her openness: “Thank you for sharing this! I agree – it’s not meant to be alarmist, it’s about being informed.”
A different user who was also diagnosed with cancer opened up about their experience: “Blood in stool, nothing else no pain, nothing. Thought it was bleeding haemorrhoids and too embarrassed to address it.”
They continued with a regretful tone: “Ignorant and foolish and many regrets now. Fighting to beat stage 4 cancer for over 2 years. Get your colonoscopies and don’t ignore any signs and symptoms.”
If you’re experiencing any symptoms that concern you, we recommend speaking with a doctor. It may turn out to be nothing serious, but it’s always wise to have it checked.