Woman diagnosed with deadly disease at just 24 after she couldn't stop burping
A woman has been diagnosed with stage three colon cancer at just 24-years-old after she began burping more than usual.
Bailey Mcbreen, now 25, never imagined something so normal could be a symptom of something so deadly.
Bailey, from Sarasota, Florida, says that before a holiday with her fiancé in 2021, she never used to burp. However, during the trip they noticed she had started burping around five to 10 times a day.
She said: "We were joking about my burping on holiday because I never used to be able to do it. We didn't think it was anything alarming as burping is so normal for everyone else."
Her doctor also dismissed the symptom as anxiety during a regular visit. Everything went back to normal until January this year.
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After planning her engagement party, Bailey realised she hadn't gone to the bathroom in a couple days, which was abnormal for her. As the week went on, she developed excruciating abdominal pain, cramping, nausea and couldn't keep food down.
As a nurse, Bailey recognised the symptoms of a small bowel obstruction and tried to resolve it herself. But by the weekend, she was in so much pain her mother insisted she go to the hospital.
After months of dismissal by doctors, she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in January 2022 (Gofundme)She said: "I had a CT scan and within 10 minutes I was told that I had a mass on my colon and that they believed it was colon cancer until it was proved otherwise. I was admitted to the hospital straight away.
"When my biopsy results came back, it was confirmed that I had stage three colon cancer. I felt the blood rush out of my head when I heard those words, and my entire body froze. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I then just went into nurse mode and started asking lots of questions. I was thinking about IVF, losing my hair, and chemotherapy."
She underwent surgery to remove part of her colon and some lymph nodes. Bailey recently completed 12 weeks of chemotherapy and is waiting on results to determine next steps, which may include more surgery or radiation.
Doctors couldn't get a clear margin to fully remove the cancer during the first surgery, as it had attached to her spleen. She has been planning her wedding during treatment to keep her mind occupied to her 'high school sweetheart' Caden.
Bailey said the biggest takeaway is to not let doctors dismiss symptoms. "You know your body better than anyone and if you think something isn't quite right, don't let it be covered by modern medicine," she said.
"I couldn't believe that burping was a symptom of my cancer. It's something that is so easily dismissed. However, my oncologist said that is it one of the biggest symptoms they're seeing in young adults with colon cancer. Symptoms are our body's way of telling us that something is wrong."
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Bailey, which has now raised over $73,000 (£56,000). The page, set up by a cousin, reads: "I’m at a loss. My family is at a loss. Bailey is at a loss. My baby cousin, Bailey was just diagnosed with stage three colon cancer, at 24 years young..
"She’s amazingly healthy, fit, smart, beautiful and hardworking. She’s to get married in December to the love of her life, her high school sweet heart, Caden."
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Bowel cancer is cancer that starts in the large bowel (colon cancer) or back passage (rectal cancer). It is also known as colorectal cancer. The risk factors for developing bowel cancer are the same as many other forms of cancer - including diet, alcohol, smoking and older age.
Almost 70 out of 100 people (almost 70 per cent) with stage 3 bowel cancer (also called Dukes' C) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they're diagnosed.
Symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
- Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- Blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet
- Tummy pain
- Bloating
- Losing weight without trying
- Feeling very tired for no reason
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