A woman diagnosed with rectal cancer at 28 has shared the warning signs she experienced, as new figures show a significant rise in cancer rates among younger people. Aisling Gallagher, from Belfast, was "super healthy" when she noticed changes in her bowel habits, including urgency to use the toilet, blood in her stool, and bloating.
After visiting her GP, a colonoscopy several months later revealed a tumour in her rectum, leading to a stage-two rectal cancer diagnosis. Statistics from Cancer Research UK, published this week, show that overall cancer incidence rates among 25 to 49-year-olds in the UK rose by 24% between the early 1990s and 2019.
Early symptoms dismissed
Aisling, a retail manager and content creator, initially brushed off her symptoms, attributing them to her busy life. She said: "I was always super healthy and had zero health conditions. I didn't even register for a GP when I moved to London, as I never had to visit."
It was only while visiting home in March 2020 that she consulted a doctor. Although an initial examination took place and further tests were scheduled, lockdown was declared two days later, delaying her care. From March to August, Aisling "quickly deteriorated," losing a stone in weight due to a loss of appetite and continuing to pass blood with her stool.
Diagnosis and treatment
Blood tests were eventually carried out, and she was urgently called in for a colonoscopy, where the tumour was discovered. She began treatment in October 2020, undergoing radiation therapy on her pelvis alongside oral chemotherapy. When this proved unsuccessful, she had anterior resection surgery in February 2021, which included a temporary stoma.
The cancer had spread to 11 of her lymph nodes, requiring six additional months of chemotherapy. Aisling was told she would lose her fertility as a result of the treatment and is now experiencing the menopause. "The infertility was the biggest shock and heartbreak to get over," she said. "I was devastated and honestly still am – it's the hardest thing to navigate."
Remission and awareness
In November 2021, Aisling was given the all-clear, and she underwent stoma reversal surgery the following month. She has chronicled her journey over the past six years to raise awareness of bowel cancer. "I would never have thought it would be me to have that diagnosis and now I am living with life-changing consequences," she said.
She now takes HRT and uses laxatives daily to manage the effects of treatment. "I haven't let any of this stop me from living my life," she added. "If you know you don't feel right – get it checked. Cancer does not discriminate and your health is your superpower."
