Featured Image Credit: TikTok/brownlynsweet
Topics: Cancer, Health, Social Media, Bowel cancer
Joshua Nair
Topics: Cancer, Health, Social Media, Bowel cancer
Warning: This article contains discussion of cancer which some readers may find distressing.
A woman who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in her mid-20s has shared the symptoms you should look out for.
Aged just 26, Bronwyn was given the heartbreaking news of her health condition, previously having no idea until her diagnosis.
Now, the social media content creator shares videos on her recovery journey with followers, while also revealing how she missed the symptoms of the disease beforehand.
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It's said that upwards of 44,000 people in the UK get diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, with the rate increasing especially for those aged 25 to 50, according to Cancer Research UK.
Bowel cancer is typically known as a case of cancer that is associated with older people, but Bronwyn is trying to raise awareness of it among all ages.
Just six percent of people in the UK who are diagnosed with bowel cancer are aged below 50, but the TikTok user, who is in the middle of her treatment, has told viewers of some of the symptoms you might dismiss at first.
Speaking in a video uploaded to her account, Bronwyn said that there was no history of the condition in her family, having been 'medically fit and well' before her diagnosis too.
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She noted that she probably would 'have pushed my GP further', adding: "Because, obviously, you are never too young to get bowel cancer."
Bronwyn revealed the main symptoms: "So the many symptoms to look for are blood in your poo or blood when your bum after going for a big fat poo.
"It doesn't have to be a big fat poo, it can be any kind of poo."
As well as this, she said that any changes in bowel habits, whether it be going more often or less often, could be worth noting, while constant stomach aches or bloating could be a sign of the condition.
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The TikToker went on to mention that 'feeling fatigued' and 'your poo's shape' are also other things to look out for.
"Long thin pencil poos, I don't mean they have to be like proper pencils, but thinning of your poos can also be a sign of bowel cancer. And obviously, if you're just feeling that something is off, go and see your GP," Bronwyn explained.
While she told people to see their GP if they notice any of these symptoms, she added that those over the age of 50 should do their FIT (faecal immunochemical test) kit when they get it, regardless of their health.
The NHS echoes the same warnings, with the main signs being changes in poo or poo habits, including blood in your poo, in addition to lumps or pains in your stomach, and even if it doesn't mean you have bowel cancer, it's worth getting checked out.
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If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.