👩‍⚕️ Meet Helen O’Leary, a nurse who trusted her gut feelings and caught her bowel cancer just in the nick of time! Her story is a powerful reminder of how important it is to listen to your body and speak up—even when the topic seems a bit awkward.
Helen started noticing subtle changes in her bowel habits that just didn’t sit right with her. Despite a negative routine bowel screening in 2023, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was amiss. By May 2024, her concerns grew stronger, and she returned to her GP.
The result? A positive FIT (faecal immunochemical test) test leading to a colonoscopy. Doctors discovered a large polyp and, hidden nearby, a small 6mm malignant tumour, which resulted in a stage three bowel cancer diagnosis. Fortunately, it was caught early enough for effective treatment.
đź’Ş Now, cancer-free and on a monitoring programme, Helen wants to break the silence and stigma surrounding bowel health. She urges everyone to watch for critical symptoms like blood in your poo, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, constant fatigue, or any pain or lumps in the stomach.
“Talking about it might be awkward, but it could save your life,” Helen emphasises.
Let’s follow Helen’s lead and have those crucial conversations about our health. It could make all the difference!
🩺 Remember, it’s always better to be proactive and get checked out. Your health is worth it!
#BowelCancerAwareness #ListenToYourBody #HealthMatters