Charlotte Rutherford, now 32, faced a terrifying health crisis when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer not once, but twice during her twenties. Her story serves as a stark warning to young individuals about the critical symptoms that must never be ignored.
A Sudden Emergency Unfolds
In 2020, at the age of 26, Charlotte was admitted to hospital in severe distress. She suffered from intense stomach pain, persistent vomiting, and a complete loss of appetite. These symptoms had plagued her intermittently for approximately 18 months, but they escalated dramatically when a tumour obstructed her colon.
"I was told that when I went into hospital the first time in 2020 that I was maybe 48 hours away from my heart just giving up," Charlotte revealed. The obstruction left her unable to eat, vomiting for hours after meals, and in excruciating pain. A CT scan soon uncovered Stage 3B bowel cancer, with the tumour blocking her colon and having spread to her lymph nodes.
The Initial Diagnosis and Treatment
Living in Australia at the time, Charlotte underwent emergency surgery to remove the obstruction on December 11, 2020, less than 24 hours after her hospital arrival. A biopsy confirmed advanced bowel cancer, which doctors estimated had been developing for three to five years. Following surgery, she endured 12 weeks of preventative chemotherapy, completing treatment by April 6, 2021, when she was declared in remission.
Charlotte described the emotional turmoil: "I had no time to think. I was in Australia, and it was in Covid, so I was on my own in the hospital. To be honest, the thing that was going through my mind because of how unwell I felt... I just thought I was going to die in the hospital."
A Devastating Recurrence
After moving to the UK in April 2021, Charlotte underwent regular scans and blood tests every six months. By 2023, aged 29, she felt "so fit and so healthy" with no signs of cancer. Tragically, just nine days after a routine scan in February 2023, she learned the cancer had returned, this time in her lung, leading to a stage 4 diagnosis as it had metastasized.
Facing this recurrence, Charlotte grappled with difficult decisions, particularly regarding fertility. "I essentially had to weigh up whether it meant more to me to not have chemo and protect my fertility, or have chemo and reduce my chance of the cancer coming back," she explained. Fortunately, due to the tumour's small size, she underwent keyhole surgery in April 2023 and was declared in remission again by August 2023.
The Emotional and Social Impact
Battling cancer twice in her late twenties has taken a significant emotional toll on Charlotte. "Because I was so young, you're around an age group where people are progressing with other areas of their life, like buying houses and work and stuff. You just feel so behind where everyone else is, for something that is just so out of your control," she shared.
Raising Awareness for Young People
April marks Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, and Charlotte is now a community manager for the cancer charity Mission Remission, based in Bristol. She is calling on both young people and healthcare professionals to remain vigilant about the warning signs of bowel cancer.
The NHS lists key symptoms that should not be ignored:
- Changes in bowel habits
- Blood in stools, which can make poo black or red
- Stomach pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bloating
According to Bowel Cancer UK, more than 2,500 people under the age of 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK every year. "There isn't quite that awareness still that this can happen to young people," Charlotte emphasised.
This April, Bowel Cancer UK and Takeda UK are highlighting their Stage4You campaign, developed and funded by Takeda UK and supported by Bowel Cancer UK. This initiative aims to address the unique challenges and needs of those living with stage 4 bowel cancer, underscoring the importance of early detection and support.
Charlotte's harrowing journey underscores a vital message: bowel cancer does not discriminate by age, and recognising symptoms early can be life-saving. Her resilience serves as an inspiration, urging everyone to take their health seriously and seek medical advice promptly when warning signs appear.
