Experiencing unusual symptoms of colon cancer and facing death head-on due to this disease, a young woman has warned others not to ignore lesser-known indicators. In late 2023, 25-year-old Chloe Wakelin began to suffer common symptoms like fatigue and abdominal pain. She attributed these symptoms to a stomach virus transmitted by the children at the nursery where she worked or her six-year-old daughter, Harper-Ellen. Doctors confirmed this diagnosis. However, a severe episode of vomiting in December 2023 revealed that her illness was much more serious than she had thought. She noticed that the fluid she vomited was dark in color, described as “like cigarette tar.”

Wakelin underwent detailed examinations at the hospital due to her condition. Eventually, she was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. Moreover, the disease had become life-threatening due to sepsis caused by an extreme immune response. Doctors indicated that she had only 12 hours to live when she was admitted to the hospital. A 25-centimeter section of her intestine had to be urgently removed to save the young woman’s life. Wakelin stated that in 2023, she had visited the doctor with complaints of fatigue, nausea, and bloating, but after tests ruled out diseases such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or pregnancy, the doctors diagnosed her with a simple stomach ailment. She never thought about cancer due to her young age.

When she returned to the doctor in December 2023 with vomiting complaints, she needed to be referred for further tests. In January 2024, she noticed she was turning yellow and went to the local emergency department. Scans revealed a tumor in her colon and also that she had sepsis. “I COULD HAVE DIED WITHIN 12 HOURS”

Wakelin said, “I was told that I would die within 12 hours due to kidney and liver failure if I didn’t have surgery.” After a grueling chemotherapy process, she stated that she is currently in remission. During the surgery, part of her intestines and lymph nodes were removed, and a stoma was placed.

Wakelin expressed her desire to raise awareness about colon cancer symptoms after her experience. “When you are 25, you think that bowel cancer won’t affect you. However, this disease can affect anyone. Regardless of your age, take your symptoms seriously and do not hesitate to see a doctor.”

In the UK, there are approximately 44,000 cases of bowel cancer each year, while in the USA, there are 142,000 cases. Official data shows that colon cancer rates in people aged 25-49 have increased by 52% since the 1990s. Experts suggest that this increase could be linked to highly processed foods, antibiotic use, environmental factors, and dietary habits.

Colon cancer, also known as bowel cancer, includes symptoms such as changes in bowel movements, blood in the stool, stomach pain, bloating, unexpected weight loss, and fatigue. Experts highlight the importance of young people being vigilant against these symptoms.