A 32-year-old fitness enthusiast from New Zealand has been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer after a routine blood test, and is now urging others to be aware of three key symptoms. Rachel Ferguson, a preschool teacher from Tauranga, visited her GP in November 2020 to switch medication for a pre-existing blood condition before trying for a baby with her husband Glen. A routine test revealed she was severely deficient in iron.
When asked about bleeding, Ms Ferguson recalled noticing tiny drops of bright red blood in her stool over the previous two months. She also experienced bloating and lightheadedness upon standing, which she attributed to wedding planning stress. Despite these symptoms, she felt otherwise healthy and had more energy than usual.
Further scans and a flexible sigmoidoscopy revealed tumours in her colon and liver. Less than two months after her wedding, she was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. Doctors performed surgery to remove the tumours before starting chemotherapy, which also allowed time to freeze her eggs. The operation was successful, and doctors are hopeful for a cure.
Ms Ferguson, who trains five to six times a week and eats organic food, said she never felt fatigued—often considered a key warning sign. She now wants others to know the three symptoms she experienced: blood in stool, bloating, and lightheadedness. Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in New Zealand, with about 3,000 cases annually, and is often misdiagnosed due to vague early symptoms.
