Young Woman’s Bowel Cancer Diagnosis Delayed After 13 Dismissals by Doctors
A young woman in the UK received a Stage 3 bowel cancer diagnosis after her symptoms were dismissed by medical professionals on 13 separate occasions, highlighting potential issues with diagnostic pathways for young adults.
Milli Tanner first approached her local general practitioner in June 2021, complaining of stomach pains, lower back pain, and blood in her stool. She was initially told her symptoms were likely due to piles, period problems, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). “They said that maybe I’d had a night out, had too much to drink, and that was irritating my stomach,” Tanner recalled. Despite persistent bleeding and abdominal pain, subsequent appointments yielded similar diagnoses, with suggestions her tiredness was linked to working late shifts.
After repeated unsuccessful attempts to receive a diagnosis through her GP and a dismissive visit to A&E where she was told, “You’re just too young,” Tanner independently purchased a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) which returned a positive result. Even then, she faced delays, being informed she would need to undergo another FIT test through the NHS and potentially wait up to 60 weeks for a colonoscopy. This experience underscores the challenges patients sometimes face when advocating for their own health, particularly when symptoms are atypical for their age group. Bowel cancer is becoming increasingly common in younger adults; learn more about Bowel Cancer UK.
An urgent colonoscopy, finally ordered after a positive NHS FIT test, confirmed Tanner’s fears in November 2023, revealing Stage 3 bowel cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. She has since undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, including the fitting of a permanent stoma, and is now perimenopausal with potential fertility issues. Tanner is now urging others to persist with medical professionals and trust their instincts, stating, “You know your own body better than anybody else does. If it feels wrong, then keep going back until you find what is wrong.” Early diagnosis is crucial for improving outcomes in bowel cancer.
Health officials have not yet commented on the specific case but are reviewing diagnostic guidelines for young adults presenting with bowel cancer symptoms.
