In a profoundly moving and exclusive revelation, television personality Coleen Nolan has shared the harrowing details of her recent bowel cancer diagnosis that coincided with the collapse of her marriage.
The beloved Loose Women panellist received the devastating news just weeks after her husband Ray Fensome ended their 19-year marriage, creating what she describes as the "worst period" of her life.
The Symptoms She Mistook for Menopause
Nolan, 59, initially attributed her concerning symptoms to menopause, a common misconception that nearly cost her valuable treatment time. "I was bleeding and thought it was just part of the menopause journey," she confessed. "I never imagined it could be something more sinister."
It was only through routine screening that medical professionals detected the abnormality. The NHS bowel cancer screening programme, which sends testing kits to adults aged 60-74 in England, ultimately saved her life through early detection.
A Double Blow: Cancer and Divorce
The cancer diagnosis came as Nolan was already reeling from the shock of her marriage breakdown. "When Ray left, I thought things couldn't get worse," she shared. "Then I received the cancer news, and it felt like my world was collapsing completely."
The television star underwent successful surgery to remove the cancerous cells and has since been given the all-clear, though she continues with regular monitoring to ensure the cancer doesn't return.
Raising Awareness Could Save Lives
Nolan is now using her platform to raise crucial awareness about bowel cancer symptoms, particularly how they can be mistaken for menoapausal changes in women.
"We need to talk about these things openly," she insists. "If my story encourages just one person to get checked, something positive will have come from this nightmare."
Her courageous decision to speak out highlights the importance of recognizing key symptoms that should never be ignored:
- Persistent bleeding or changes in bowel habits
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme fatigue without obvious cause
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
Medical experts emphasize that early detection dramatically improves survival rates for bowel cancer, which remains one of the most common cancers in the UK.
Nolan's journey from diagnosis to recovery serves as both a cautionary tale and a story of hope, demonstrating the critical importance of listening to your body and seeking medical advice when something doesn't feel right.
