A mother was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer after low iron levels were detected when she attempted to donate blood. Laura Jackson had her GP investigate the cause of her low iron levels, and two positive FIT tests led to her being referred for a colonoscopy and gastroscopy in May 2025.
Diagnosis and surgery
Apart from fatigue, which she attributed to being 'a working mum', she says she had not experienced any of the typical symptoms such as blood in her stool – though she did suffer bouts of diarrhoea up to three times in the year prior to her referral. Doctors found a 5cm tumour in Laura's large intestine and confirmed a bowel cancer diagnosis – which meant she required a third of her bowel removed during a three-hour operation in July 2025.
Following a biopsy of her tumour, her diagnosis was upgraded from stage two to stage three after the cancer showed deposits in her veins and was attempting to spread. Six weeks after her surgery in August 2025, Laura underwent four rounds of 'mop up' chemotherapy over 12 weeks.
Recovery and surveillance
She currently has no evidence of disease but will remain under surveillance for the next five years. 39-year-old Laura, from Southampton, Hampshire, said: 'Everything kind of felt a bit surreal in that moment when the doctor told me I had a tumour.'
'The first thing I thought was "am I going to die?" I thought "oh my gosh I've got two babies at home, I've got to be there for them".' 'My husband was there with me trying to stay strong but he was crying as well. I don't want to scaremonger but to raise awareness of the FIT test.'
Symptoms overlooked
She says she wishes she had 'listened to her body more' regarding her exhaustion, frequently taking two-hour naps during the day while her baby slept. Six weeks post-surgery, her cancer was upgraded to stage three after deposits were discovered in her veins and outside her bowel.
'When it's upgraded from stage two to three you need to do what they call "mop up" chemo,' she explained. 'The thought of surgery didn't scare me, but chemo did.' 'I tried to reframe it in my head that rather than chemo being the scary enemy, chemo was stopping this coming back. I had bad days but other days I felt better and I could go to the gym, go swimming or for family days out.'
Laura iced her hands and feet throughout her chemotherapy to help prevent any long-term neuropathy – nerve damage which can occasionally be triggered by chemotherapy, leading to symptoms such as tingling, numbness, pain and weakness, often in the hands and feet.
She says apart from fatigue, the one symptom she 'completely disregarded' was sudden episodes of diarrhoea. 'Three times a year I'd have stomach cramps and need for a number two but nothing was happening,' she said.
'The pain was so intense and eventually I'd have frequent diarrhoea. Looking back I had a partial bowel obstruction so my body was having a meltdown trying to pass a bowel motion but the tumour was in the way.'
Outcome and awareness
Following her 12-week treatment course, Laura has been recuperating and currently shows no evidence of disease, though she'll remain under surveillance for five years before she can be classified as being in remission.
'It changes you as a person,' she explains. 'You're always thinking about getting back to normal.' 'That normal is always different. I don't necessarily mean physically but mentally your mindset changes a lot.'
'You've diced with death in a way and it changes your outlook on things. But I definitely don't want to sound doom and gloom.' 'Pre-cancer diagnosis I lost five stone which was very much intentional. Once I had treatment I put on over 30lbs which was gutting for me.' 'Today a good thing is I'm back to my pre-cancer weight.'
By sharing her story online, Laura reveals her videos have prompted others to request FIT tests. 'My GP saved my life,' she states. 'I've shared for awareness.' 'I thought if I share my experience and someone else is going through it they might be able to see the reality is not all doom and gloom.'
