A young woman who suffered unusual symptoms of colon cancer, and nearly lost her life to the disease, has warned others not to dismiss lesser-known signs.
Chloe Wakelin, a nursery worker from Rochdale, believed she had a stomach bug for months after suffering common problems like tiredness and pain in her abdomen in late 2023.
Then 24, she assumed she had likely picked up the illness from the children she looked after or even her own six-year-old daughter, Harper-Ellen, and doctors confirmed her suspicions.
But it wasn’t until a terrifying vomiting episode struck that she was considered it could be a disease as serious as cancer.
One day, in December 2023, she vomited – and was astonished to see that the colour of the liquid was dark, ‘like cigarette tar’.
The incident kick-started investigations at the local hospital that eventually led to a diagnosis of stage three colon cancer that left her vulnerable to an infection, triggering life-threatening sepsis.
Medics treating the mother-of-one said she was a mere 12 hours from death when she arrived at hospital, and had to cut away a 25cm section of her bowel in order to save her life.
Now in remission after gruelling chemotherapy, Ms Wakelin said she feels ‘let down’ by the doctors and is keen to raise awareness of lesser-known symptoms.
Chloe Wakelin, a nursery worker, believed medics when they told her that symptoms of persistent stomach pain, tiredness and low appetite were ‘just a viral stomach bug’
Ms Wakelin, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, said she first visited her GP in 2023 complaining week of common issues like bloating, nausea and fatigue.
But after tests for conditions like Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and pregnancy came negative, she said medics concluded her symptoms were caused by a simple stomach bug.
Never ‘for one second’ did she suspect it would be cancer given she was so young.
The vomiting episode at the end of 2023 triggered a referral to hospital doctors to investigate a potential underlying issue.
But Ms Wakelin said she was told the nearby The Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester was too busy to carry out a scan.
Medics treating the mother-of-one said she was a mere 12 hours from death when she arrived at hospital
The now 26-year-old assumed she had likely picked up the illness from the children she looked after or even her own six-year-old daughter, Harper-Ellen, back in late 2023
Then in January 2024, Ms Wakelin rushed to her local A&E after she noticed she was ‘turning yellow’.
Known medically as jaundice, the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes can be a sign of something seriously wrong with the liver.
A subsequent CT scan revealed the real cause of her symptoms a tumour in her colon.
Tests also found she was suffering from sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection whereby the body’s immune system attacks its own organs and tissues.
‘I was told that if I didn’t have the surgery, I would have had 12 hours to live because my kidney and my liver were failing,’ she said.
‘Waking up in recovery, I remember feeling my stomach. It just felt like everything had crumbled around me.’
The surgery removed 25cm of her bowel, as well as her lymph nodes, due to the cancer having spread.
Due to the removal of part of her bowel doctors fitted a stoma – an artificial opening that allows waste to exit outside the surface of the stomach where it passes into an attached bag.
Now in remission after gruelling chemotherapy Ms Wakelin said she feels ‘let down’ by the doctors and is keen to raise awareness of colon cancer symptoms to help other people avoid the same ordeal
Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, or a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss as a result of these symptoms
She said: ‘You always think you’re too young at 25 because it’s typically a cancer that affects older people.
‘I didn’t have the “typical” symptoms for bowel cancer.
‘I’d just like to remind everyone to not be ashamed to go to their GP about any symptoms they may be having, no matter your age. It can affect anyone.’
Steve Taylor, chief officer at The Royal Oldham Hospital, said: ‘We are unable to comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality.
‘We always encourage anyone who has questions or concerns relating to their care or treatment with us to contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service so any issues can be looked into.’
Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership has been contacted for comment.
Colon cancer is otherwise known as bowel cancer and symptoms most commonly include changes in bowel movements such as consistent and new diarrhoea or constipation, and blood in the stool.
Stomach pain, a lump in the stomach, bloating, unexpected weight-loss and fatigue are among other signs.
Ms Wakelin said she feels ‘let down’ by the doctors who brushed off her concerns for months and is keen to raise awareness about bowel cancer among younger people
Ms Wakelin’s story comes as after experts expressed their ongoing concern over a mysterious ‘epidemic’ of bowel cancers among young people.
Official data show colon cancer rates have increased 52 per cent among 25-to-49 year-olds many of whom are otherwise fit and healthy, since the early 90s.
In contrast rates of the disease in older groups, who are statistically more likely to get the disease overall, have either declined or remained stable to the same period.
Experts are still exploring what could be behind the rise with theories including obesity, over-use of antibiotics, mobile phone radiation and even invisible particles of plastic in drinking water as potential triggers.
However, a growing number of experts are also pointing ultra-processed foods as a potential cause.
There are around 44,000 bowel cancer cases every year in the UK and 142,000 in the US, making it the fourth most common cancer in both countries.
The disease currently kills just shy of 17,000 Brits each year with only half of those diagnosed expected to survive 10 years after learning they have the disease.
