A stage 4 bowel cancer survivor has taken to social media to share the four early symptoms she experienced before her diagnosis, urging others not to ignore similar signs. Ellie Wilcock, known as EllieWilcock0 on TikTok, detailed her symptoms in a video aimed at raising awareness.
The first symptom she noticed was pain in the left side of her tummy and pelvis, which she initially thought was a urine infection. Despite tests showing no infection, the pain persisted, prompting further investigation. The second symptom was severe fatigue, where she would fall asleep immediately after returning home from work.
Ellie also highlighted a change in bowel habits and blood in her stool as a third symptom she initially overlooked. She emphasised the importance of checking one's stool, stating that if she had done so, her cancer might have been detected earlier. The fourth symptom was a lack of appetite and unexplained weight loss, though she noted that her appetite was mostly normal except for occasional nausea.
The NHS lists several symptoms of bowel cancer, including changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss. It advises anyone experiencing these symptoms for three weeks or more to contact their GP. In cases of black or dark red stool, or bloody diarrhoea, an urgent appointment or NHS 111 assistance is recommended.
Ellie's story serves as a reminder that bowel cancer can affect younger people, and early detection is crucial. She concluded her video by saying, "Hope this helps," encouraging others to be vigilant about their health.
