Alice Norris, a 35-year-old mother of two, faced a devastating diagnosis just four months after giving birth to her daughter, Olivia. Previously healthy and active, Alice was stunned to learn she had inoperable bowel cancer and now faces a challenging battle with intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Originally from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and having lived in London for 15 years, Alice relocated to Somerset to be closer to family during her treatment. During the late stages of her pregnancy, Alice noticed blood in her stool but attributed it to haemorrhoids, a common pregnancy-related issue. However, when her symptoms worsened postpartum with persistent blood and changes in stool consistency, she sought medical advice.
Despite initial reassurance from her GP and a clear blood test, further examination—including a colonoscopy—revealed a large, inoperable tumour in her rectum. Compounding the diagnosis were spots on her lungs, which raised fears of metastasis, although subsequent PET scans showed these spots had resolved. Her exact cancer stage remains uncertain, but her focus remains on aggressive treatment to reduce the tumour.
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Alice describes the past months as a whirlwind of medical appointments, treatments, and emotional upheaval. She has undergone six cycles of chemotherapy over 12 weeks, enduring severe side effects like constant nausea, hair loss, and fatigue. Despite the physical toll, she maintains a resilient spirit, coping day by day. Following chemotherapy, she completed five weeks of challenging radiotherapy while balancing motherhood and family life.
Her diagnosis has been emotionally triggering, as Alice lost her mother to blood cancer eight years ago. The uncertainty and unpredictability of cancer remain difficult, yet she continues to focus on each day, urging others to be vigilant about bowel cancer symptoms.
Alice hopes her story will raise awareness about the signs of bowel cancer—which include blood in stool, changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, and bloating—and encourage people to seek medical advice without delay. “It might save your life, or someone else’s,” she stresses.
Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, praised Alice for sharing her experience and emphasized the importance of early detection. With bowel cancer increasingly affecting younger people, she urged anyone experiencing symptoms to contact their GP promptly for testing, as early diagnosis can be lifesaving.