‘DEVASTATED’
The only mild symptom mum, 57, had before stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis as she’s told her options have run out
'I was devastated from being told that I was benign to then being told I have stage three colon cancer,' the mum says
AT first, Karen Kennerley blamed her exhaustion on work stress - that was until doctors discovered she had stage 4 bowel cancer.
"The scary thing is, I had no symptoms apart from a bit of fatigue," the 57-year-old teacher from Lancashire said.
5
5
5
"I worked in a small school for special educational Needs (SEN) pupils, I was working really hard at the time - I was exhausted."
After a full blood count test by her GP came back normal, aside from signs of anaemia.
Erring on the side of caution, Karen's doctor referred her for a FIT test and colonoscopy.
"Everyone was telling me I was fit and healthy, that there was nothing to worry about but they were doing the tests to rule things out," she recalled.
Read more on bowel cancer
The tests revealed a tumour - which was initially believed to be benign.
She then had CT and MRI scans which showed that she had two lesions on her liver.
Karen was due to have the tumour removed in May 2023, but the endoscopist halted the surgery as he considered the tumour ‘suspicious’.
Biopsies were then taken, and the results came back malignant - Karen was diagnosed with stage three cancer.
Most read in Health
The initial benign diagnosis was attributed to a sampling error.
"I was devastated from being told that I was benign to then being told I have stage three colon cancer," she said.
I got bowel cancer diagnosis after always feeling tired
"There were so many emotions - I was obviously devastated and then horrifically scared."
In June 2023, Karen had a major surgery to remove the tumour and part of her large intestine.
Karen then transferred her care to the Christie Hospital in Manchester where she underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy.
Time is running out
But despite the treatment, her cancer progressed to stage 4.
The NHS could offer no further treatment apart from palliative chemotherapy to prolong her life.
"I have gone through the mill and now time is running out," Karen said.
Determined to fight on, Karen sought alternative treatments, launching a campaign to raise money for TACE—trans arterial chemoembolisation in Germany.
5
5
This procedure delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumour by injecting it into the blood vessels feeding the tumour, followed by a substance that blocks the blood supply, cutting off its access to nutrients.
TACE is particularly effective for liver cancer, but it’s not currently available on the NHS for other cancers.
Despite the high cost, Karen has undergone three rounds of TACE, which has shown promising results in shrinking the tumours.
"The results I have had so far show that the tumours have shrunk nicely but I still need further treatment," she said.
'People with stage four feel abandoned'
With her funds running low, she’s hoping to raise £30,000 to continue the life-saving procedure.
"I am on statutory sick pay, which runs out at the beginning of April," she explained.
"The mental torment is horrendous—worrying about not working, worrying about how I will fund the treatment.
Read More on The Sun
"People with stage four cancer feel totally abandoned.
"I want to change that, not only for me but for everyone else going through this."
The signs of bowel cancer you need to know
1. B: Bleeding
There are several possible causes of bleeding from your bottom, of blood in your poo.
Bright red blood could come from swollen blood vessels, haemorrhoids or piles, in your back passage.
Dark red or black blood could come from your bowel or stomach.
Blood in your stools is one of the key signs of bowel cancer, so it’s important to mention it to your doctor so they can investigate.
2. O: Obvious change in loo habits
It’s important to tell your GP if you have noticed any changes in your bowel habits, that lasts three weeks or longer.
It’s especially important if you have also noticed signs of blood in your poo.
You might notice you need to go to the loo more often, you might have looser stools or feel like you’re not going enough or fully emptying your bowels.
Don’t be embarrassed, your GP will have heard a lot worse! Speak up and get it checked.
3. W: Weight loss
This is less common than the other symptoms, but an important one to be aware of. If you’ve lost weight and don’t really know why, it’s worth mentioning to your GP.
You may not feel like eating, feel sick, bloated and not hungry.
4. E: Extreme tiredness
Bowel cancer that causes bleeding can cause a lack of iron in the body – anaemia. If you develop anaemia you’re likely to feel tired and your skin might look pale.
5. L: Lump or pain
As with lots of other forms of cancer, a lump or pain can be a sign of bowel cancer.
It’s most likely you’ll notice a pain or lump in your stomach or back passage.
See your GP if it doesn’t go away, or if it affects how you eat or sleep
Topics