At just 26, Charlotte Rutherford was diagnosed with bowel cancer after a tumour obstructed her colon, causing severe pain and vomiting. Now 32, she has been diagnosed with the disease for a second time and is urging others to recognise the symptoms.
Ms Rutherford, from Bristol, was living in Australia in 2020 when she was rushed to hospital with stomach pain, vomiting, and loss of appetite. A CT scan revealed Stage 3B bowel cancer, which had spread to her lymph nodes. She underwent emergency surgery and chemotherapy, achieving remission in April 2021.
In February 2023, a routine scan showed the cancer had returned on her lung, now Stage 4. She opted for keyhole surgery rather than chemotherapy to protect her fertility. Ms Rutherford, who works for cancer charity Mission Remission, said: 'You realise how fragile life is – this can be happening to young people.'
She now lives with regular scans and hopes her story will encourage others to seek medical help for persistent symptoms.
