What if overlooking what feels like minor discomfort could alter your future forever?
For 45-year-old Jenny Duncan, subtle stomach pains and spotting blood on toilet paper slowly unfolded into a fight against incurable cancer. Her journey forces us to confront an unsettling reality: how often do shame and misconceptions about our bodies keep us from seeking the medical help that could save our lives?
Jenny Duncan, a school headteacher from the UK, now shares her story to caution others about the risks of ignoring early signs of bowel cancer. Her first symptoms appeared in 2019 while on holiday in Lanzarote. At the time, she brushed them aside, convinced she was healthy, active, and far too young to face a serious illness.
The issues—stomach pain and occasional blood in her stool—seemed manageable. Jenny assumed they were linked to stress from starting a demanding new job. “I thought bowel cancer was something older men got,” she confessed. Out of unease, she even took photos of the blood but didn’t immediately consult a doctor.
It was only when her husband came across those photos that Jenny finally booked an appointment. The diagnosis was crushing: stage three bowel cancer.
“I regret not seeing the doctor sooner. I can’t believe I let it go on for so long,” she admitted. “I never thought someone in their forties could face bowel cancer. Maybe if I had acted quicker, things would be different—but I’ll never know.”
Jenny started chemotherapy during the COVID-19 lockdowns, enduring treatment and surgery with little outside support. The initial results were positive—the tumor disappeared—but by 2022 the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, leaving her with an incurable stage four diagnosis.
“I completely broke down. I kept telling my husband, ‘I’m going to die,’” she recalled. After a period of retreat, she returned to work and focused on life with her grown sons. She now lives with stage four bowel cancer, undergoing scans every few months and preparing for more treatment if her condition worsens.
Jenny stresses the importance of recognizing warning signs early. Experts note that potential symptoms of bowel cancer can include persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, weight loss, and the sensation of not fully emptying the bowels.
Conclusion
Jenny Duncan’s experience underscores how vital it is to pay attention to our bodies and never dismiss unusual changes, no matter how small or embarrassing they may seem. Her story is a call for greater awareness, earlier detection, and the courage to seek help without delay. Living with stage four bowel cancer, Jenny reminds us that every moment counts—and that listening to our bodies could make all the difference.