Chloe Wakelin initially thought her vomiting symptoms were due to a stomach bug she caught from children, but it turned out she had bowel cancer. She visited her GP weekly for two months, complaining of persistent tummy aches, tiredness, and low appetite. Despite negative tests for Crohn’s disease and IBS, she was told it was likely just a viral stomach bug.
After experiencing yellowing skin in January 2024, Chloe rushed to A&E where scans revealed a large mass in her colon requiring immediate surgery. Doctors informed her she was 12 hours from death due to kidney and liver failure. She woke from a surgery with a stoma bag and a diagnosis of stage three colon cancer. After four rounds of chemotherapy, Chloe is now in remission. She feels let down by doctors for dismissing her concerns and wants to raise awareness of symptoms.
Chloe recalls feeling confused and upset when her symptoms were dismissed as a stomach bug for months. She underwent emergency surgery after a CT scan revealed the tumor and sepsis, with doctors telling her she only had 12 hours to live. Following surgery to remove the tumor, part of her large bowel, and lymph nodes, Chloe underwent chemotherapy and achieved remission in July 2024. Despite feeling frustrated and let down by the medical system, she remains hopeful for the future.
Me sentí muy decepcionado por todos ellos.
La madre de un hijo ahora insta a cualquier otra persona que esté experimentando síntomas a visitar a su médico de cabecera, independientemente de su edad.
El NHS dice que los principales síntomas del cáncer de colon incluyen sangre persistente en las heces, un cambio persistente en los hábitos intestinales, dolor abdominal inferior persistente, hinchazón o malestar.
Chloe dijo: “Siempre piensas que eres demasiado joven a los 25 porque es típicamente un cáncer que afecta a personas mayores.
“No tenía los síntomas ‘típicos’ del cáncer de colon.
“Me gustaría recordar a todos que no tengan vergüenza de ir a su médico de cabecera sobre cualquier síntoma que puedan tener, sin importar su edad. Puede afectar a cualquiera.”
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Steve Taylor, director ejecutivo del Hospital Royal Oldham, dijo: “No podemos comentar sobre casos individuales debido a la confidencialidad del paciente.
“Siempre animamos a cualquier persona que tenga preguntas o inquietudes relacionadas con su atención o tratamiento con nosotros a ponerse en contacto con nuestro Servicio de Asesoramiento y Enlace con el Paciente (PALS) para que se puedan investigar cualquier problema.”
Se ha contactado con la Asociación de Atención Integrada de Manchester para hacer comentarios.