“The air in the room was very different. They inserted the camera, the room went very quiet. The doctor just said, oh, there's something there that we need to take a biopsy from.”
Gemma had a missed early diagnosis of bowel cancer because the doctor believed her to be too young to have cancer at the age of 30.
In the past 8 years she has undergone many operations and treatments and is now stage 4 NED. Gemma is very open about the procedures she has had and wants to use her platform to raise awareness of bowel cancer in young people and also provide a support network to people who are living with cancer.
In this conversation we cover how important it is to fight for yourself when you believe that something isn't right with your body. Also discussed are the affects of surgery and chemotherapy, and the symptoms of bowel cancer to look out for - it is very important to seek a diagnosis as early as you can.
This was recorded 2 weeks prior to Deborah James, BowelBabe, sadly passing away.
For support
If you are experiencing issues discussed in this podcast contact your GP or healthcare practitioner.
Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
Want to share your story? email [email protected]
Download the transcript here.