A young woman who suddenly started losing weight dramatically found that she had contracted a life-threatening illness in the form of bowel cancer.
Sarah Griffiths was generally fit and healthy when she first started suffering from symptoms including the weight loss and some blood in her stools. Aged 31 at the time, she said she hadn't noticed the weight loss at first, but when the blood persisted for four weeks, she stepped on the scales and realised she’d lost a stone without even attempting to diet.
Sarah went to see her GP and her blood tests were clear, but a colonoscopy in June 2019 revealed she had stage three bowel cancer and a tumour “the size of a peach” was discovered. Sarah was told the devastating news the cancer had also spread to her lymph nodes and she had to undergo emergency bowel surgery and then six months of chemotherapy to treat the growth.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK and affects the large bowel. Sarah, now 34, said: “I had been marked up for a stoma and then when I woke up the staff at the hospital said the surgeon had managed to close my bowel without the need for one. I was delighted and I know that makes me extremely lucky.
“My granddad was diagnosed with bowel cancer before he died – he was 81 when he passed away. It was while I was having my treatment so I couldn’t say goodbye to him. Most people think that bowel cancer only happens to older people, but I want this to stop and for people to realise that anyone can get it and at any age.”
During a routine follow-up appointment in April last year, Sarah was told her cancer had returned in the form of a nodule in her lung. She had to undergo surgery for a second time to remove the lump, which was a success.
Last month Sarah had the results she had been waiting for when a CT scan showed no sign of cancer. She is now in remission and will have six monthly blood tests and annual scans to check for recurrence.
To mark the milestone Sarah, from Prenton, Wirral, will be joined by 19 of her family and friends who are taking part in Race For Life at Sefton Park on July 10 where she will be a VIP guest and will sound the starter horn. Sarah said she feels "lucky to be alive" and now lives "each day as if it's her last" after watching Dame Deborah James deal with the disease at the same time as going through it herself.
Dame Deborah, also known as Bowel Babe, had been raising awareness of the disease since being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2016 and has raised more than £6.7 million for Cancer Research UK. Dame Deborah died on Tuesday, June 28, surrounded by her family.
Sarah, who lives with her partner Bryan in Prenton, said it was thanks to Dame Deborah for being so open and honest about her diagnosis that has made it easier for people like her to talk about living with bowel cancer. Sarah, who lives with her partner Bryan in Prenton, said: “I have scars all over my body, but I feel lucky and it’s because of all the research and the tests that I have survived.
"Race For Life will mark a year since my treatment ended and last month I had my first clear scan in three years, so it’s time to celebrate. My family and friends would laugh if you asked is Sarah embarrassed to talk about bottoms and poo, I’m not embarrassed to talk about it, especially now as I want to be able to spread as much awareness as possible and if that saves just one life, any embarrassment would be worth it.
“I feel so lucky to be alive. I have been following Bowel Babe’s story since my treatment began. She’s a true inspiration and so strong. My attitude to life has changed, I try not to worry about things and truly believe we only live once, and we should live each day as if it’s our last.”
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 3k, 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research. The Race for Life events in Merseyside are open to people of all ages and abilities.
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