When 45-year-old Mark Thompson started experiencing persistent indigestion, he brushed it off as a minor digestive issue. But what he initially dismissed as a passing discomfort turned out to be a life-altering diagnosis: bowel cancer.
The Warning Signs He Missed
Mark, a father of two from Manchester, recalls how his symptoms began subtly. "It felt like bloating after meals, and sometimes I'd get heartburn," he said. "I assumed it was stress or something I'd eaten."
Over weeks, however, his condition worsened. He noticed blood in his stool, unexplained weight loss, and extreme fatigue – classic red flags for bowel cancer.
Why Early Detection Matters
Bowel cancer is the UK's fourth most common cancer, with over 42,000 new cases annually. Survival rates dramatically improve with early detection, yet many dismiss early symptoms.
Key symptoms include:
- Persistent abdominal pain or bloating
- Blood in stools
- Unexplained weight loss
- Changes in bowel habits lasting over three weeks
Mark's Message to Others
After surgery and chemotherapy, Mark is now in remission. His advice? "Don't ignore your body. That 'minor' symptom could save your life if checked early."
The NHS offers free bowel cancer screening for those aged 60-74 in England, with plans to lower the age to 50 by 2025.
