Agonising cramps, vomiting and odd poos – doctors dismissed them all as IBS but now I won't live to see my 30th birthday
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
DOCTORS repeatedly dismissed Shannin Pain's vomiting, agonising cramps and oddly-shaped poos as IBS due to her age - until tests revealed she might only have three years to live.
The 26-year-old visited three separate doctors after she began struggling to keep food down in October 2023.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
7
Shannin Pain, 26, started experiencing nausea and intense stomach cramps in 2023
Credit: Cover Images
7
It took months for her concerns to be taken seriously
Credit: Cover Images
7
She was eventually diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer
Credit: Cover Images
But they all insisted her nausea, "stabbing" stomach cramps and bowel changes weren't anything to worry about.
Shannin was tested for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease, Crohn's, and was even told she might have haemorrhoids.
It wasn't until 2024 that an MRI revealed Shannin had stage four bowel cancer that had silently spread through her body.
The 26-year-old was given a terrifying prognosis: three years to live with chemotherapy, or just three months without it.
'I knew something wasn't right,' Shannin, a content creator from Kawartha Lakes, Canada, said.
'I was told it was IBS or anxiety. But deep down, my gut was literally screaming at me.'
Her symptoms began in October 2023, when she started feeling intense nausea after eating, couldn't keep food down, and noticed her bowel habits had changed dramatically.
'I went from being regular to barely going at all. And when I did, my stool was pencil-thin,' Shannin said.
'It might be TMI, but it was a huge red flag.'
She also started experiencing agonising stomach pains.
Diagnosed with bowel cancer at 22
'I'd get these stabbing cramps in my lower left abdomen - so bad I couldn't breathe.
"I would double over, gasping, clutching my stomach. It felt like something was ripping through me.'
Shannin is "frustrated" that none of her doctors suggested she get colonoscopy when she presented with these symptoms.
'Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers if caught early, but no one took me seriously because of my age," she claims.
7
Shannin wishes she'd been offered a colonoscopy earlier
Credit: Cover Images
7
She was given three years to live, with treatment
Credit: Cover Images
In April 2024, Shannin was sent for an MRI to 'rule things out' - and never left the hospital.
'The scan showed a complete intestinal blockage, and I was admitted on the spot for emergency surgery,' she recalled.
'When I woke up, they told me I had cancer.'
Surgeons removed the tumour in her large intestine but during the procedure, they discovered the disease had already spread to her right ovary, which had to be removed.
What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer?
IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough.
While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease.
Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver.
If you notice any of the signs, don't be embarrassed and don't ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include: Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example
Pain or a lump in your tummy
Extreme tiredness
Losing weight
Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs include: Gripping pains in the abdomen
Feeling bloated
Constipation and being unable to pass wind
Being sick
Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo
While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools.
But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease.
Shannin was diagnosed with a Krukenberg tumour, a rare secondary cancer that starts in the gastrointestinal tract and spreads to the ovaries.
In the same surgery, doctors also removed 13 of Shannin's lymph nodes, 11 of which were cancerous, and part of her peritoneum - the a membrane that lines the inside of the abdomen and pelvis.
With one ovary remaining, Shannin underwent egg retrieval in May 2024 with the hope of being able to have children one day and successfully saved seven eggs.
'The idea of losing my fertility while fighting for my life was heartbreaking,' she said.
'I'm so grateful we were able to get those eggs. It gives me hope for the future.'
But Shannin also found out that her liver was so covered in tumours, it couldn't be operated on at all.
She was told she needed to start chemotherapy immediately, or the cancer would become untreatable.
7
Recent scans show Shannin's cancer hasn't progressed but she's looking into alternative treatments
Credit: Cover Images
7
Shannin pictured with her family
Credit: Cover Images
'They said without chemo, I had less than three months. With it, maybe up to three years. I just froze.'
As of June 2025, she's completed 27 rounds of chemo and is preparing for her twenty-eighth.
In October and November, things took a dangerous turn when Shannin twice went into anaphylactic shock after reacting to one of her chemo drugs.
'My throat closed up. I couldn't breathe. I honestly thought I was going to die.'
The 26-year-old instead switched to immunotherapy and a take-home chemo bottle she wears for several days after each session.
Last hope
Shannin recently received a small but hopeful update: her latest MRI showed no new tumours in her liver.
'Some deposits have grown slightly, but nothing alarming,' she shared.
'After taking a six-week chemo break, I was terrified the cancer had exploded. This gave me relief.'
On top of conventional treatment, Shannin is also looking into personalised integrative oncology in hopes of extending her life further.
She's working with a naturopathic oncologist in Switzerland, who is conducting testing to determine what therapies might target her cancer, including high-dose vitamin C, Ivermectin, and other metabolic treatments.
No one should be told they're too young for cancer
Shannin Pain
'The goal is to test my blood against different therapies and find what actually kills my tumour cells. Then, with those results, I'll hopefully travel to Sweden and start treatment there," Shannin said.
There's no reliable scientific evidence that vitamin C or Ivermectin - an anti-parasitic drug - can combat cancer.
Shannin has launched a GoFundMe to help fund her travel, testing and treatment.
'This is my last hope. I'm not ready to give up. I've come this far, and I'm going to keep fighting," she said.
She's now documenting her experiences on TikTok, hoping to raise awareness for other young people experiencing similar symptoms.
'If I can help even one person get diagnosed sooner, it'll all be worth it.
"No one should be told they're too young for cancer.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The £1.80 juice that ‘lowers your blood pressure – slashing risk of killer heart attack and stroke'
Scroll down to find out other foods that can help BEET IT The £1.80 juice that 'lowers your blood pressure – slashing risk of killer heart attack and stroke' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A VEGETABLE juice available in supermarkets can lower your blood pressure by killing bad mouth bacteria, a study found. About one in three Brits have high blood pressure, raising their risk of heart disease, strokes and dementia. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Millions of people in the UK have high blood pressure (stock image) Credit: Alamy Millions take medication to reduce the danger but your diet can also help. Researchers at Exeter University found that nitrates in beetroot juice can maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the mouth and gut in older patients. People in their 60s and 70s saw a decrease in blood pressure after two weeks of drinking two shots of juice per day. They used juice concentrate shots that cost about £1.80 each and are equal to a pint of pressed juice, costing about £1.65. Nitrate from the juice increases the body's production of nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels to relax and regulates blood pressure. Veg alternatives if you don't like beetroot Study author Professor Anni Vanhatalo said: 'We know that a nitrate-rich diet has health benefits and older people produce less of their own nitric oxide as they age. 'Encouraging older adults to consume more nitrate-rich vegetables could have significant long term health benefits. 'The good news is that if you don't like beetroot, there are many nitrate-rich alternatives like spinach, rocket, fennel, celery and kale.' The study, published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine, compared the effects in 39 under-30s and 36 pensioners in their 60s and 70s. Both age groups had a 'significant' change in the balance of bacteria in their mouths. What is high blood pressure and what is a normal reading? Experts increasingly believe the balance of bugs in our mouth and gut has a huge influence on overall health. Beetroot juice did not have the same blood pressure lowering effect on younger participants. Older people saw an increase in health-boosting bacteria Neisseria, and a decrease in a bug called Prevotella. This in turn led to a decrease in blood pressure readings. Dr Lee Beniston, of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, said: 'This research is a great example of how bioscience can help us better understand the complex links between diet, the microbiome and healthy ageing. 'It opens up new opportunities for improving vascular health through nutrition.'
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Ozempic-like fat jabs are BETTER than common drug at reducing dementia risk, study finds
Plus, all the ways you can lower your dementia risk if you have type 2 diabetes WIN WIN Ozempic-like fat jabs are BETTER than common drug at reducing dementia risk, study finds Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FAT jabs are better than widely prescribed metformin when it comes to curbing dementia risk in people with type 2 diabetes, say scientists. While both medications demonstrate neuroprotective properties, no comparison has been made up until now. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 GLP-1 receptor agonists have recently gained popularity as a weight loss medication Credit: Getty Metformin is generally the first-line medication for type 2 diabetes, while GLP-1 receptor agonists are often used as second-line or add-on therapy when metformin is not sufficient or tolerated. In recent times, GLP-1 receptor agonists have gained popularity as a weight loss medication due to their ability to suppress appetite and promote feelings of fullness. Previously published research indicated people with type 2 diabetes have a significantly increased risk of developing dementia, with some studies reporting a 70 per cent higher risk compared to those without diabetes. And both GLP-1 receptor agonists and metformin have been shown to protect the brains of people with type 2 diabetes. But in the largest study of its kind, published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, GLP-1 receptor agonists were found to trump metformin when it comes to dementia risk. Researchers analysed health records from the period 2004 to 2024 to track the development of dementia in patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with either GLP-1 receptor agonists or metformin for at least six consecutive months. While there was no significant difference in vascular dementia risk between the two types of drug, GLP-1 receptor agonist use was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing dementia, overall. Specifically, taking GLP-1 receptor agonists was linked to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and a 25 per cent lower risk of developing non-vascular dementias than metformin use. These positive effects were evident across all age groups, but with the strongest effect among the over 60s, women, and those of white ethnicity. Risk of death from any cause was also found to be lower - nearly 5 per cent of those treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists died compared with nearly 9 per cent of those treated with metformin. The 14 science-backed ways to prevent dementia 'Both medications demonstrate neuroprotective properties, such as reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, improving insulin sensitivity, and enhancing cerebrovascular health, which likely contribute to their benefits in overall dementia,' explain the researchers. But unlike metformin, GLP-1 receptor agonists exert direct central nervous system effects by crossing the blood-brain barrier, they add. The researchers point out their tracking period, while sufficient for observing dementia outcomes, may not fully capture long-term cognitive effects, especially given the progressive nature of Alzheimer's disease. But they conclude: "Given the severe societal, familial , and economic burden of diabetes-related dementia, these findings raise important considerations about the tole of GLP-1 [receptor agonists] as first-line therapies in [type 2 diabetes] management. "While further long-term studies are warranted to validate these results, integrating GLP-1 [receptor agonists] as primary therapeutic agents may represent a paradigm shift in preventing the cognitive complications of diabetes.' All GLP-1 medicines are prescription only medicines, which means they can only be prescribed by a healthcare professional. GLP-1 medicines can also be purchased privately. If you want to get a GLP-1 medicine privately, a consultation with a healthcare professional must happen before the prescription can be issued, so the prescriber can carry out proper checks and make sure you are aware of the benefits and risks of taking the medicine. GLP-1 medicines should not be bought from unregulated sellers such as beauty salons or via social media, or from anywhere without a prior consultation with a healthcare professional. The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has had reports of people experiencing severe side effects from fake GLP-1 medicines.
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Urgent warning to parents after kids seen ‘eating toxic plant' at Scots country park
They issued more advice to visitors WEED WARNING Urgent warning to parents after kids seen 'eating toxic plant' at Scots country park Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN URGENT warning has been issued to parents after youngsters were reportedly seen eating a toxic plant. The alarming reports came in at the Palacerigg Country Park in Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The warning was issued at Palacerigg Country Park Credit: The Sun 4 Kids were seen picking up ragwort Credit: Alamy 4 The plant is toxic and can be harmful Credit: Alamy A member of the public raised the alarm after seeing youngsters picking up Ragwort. They even reportedly saw one child eating it. The toxic yellow weed is found in the park and can be harmful if ingested. It can be mildly harmful to humans but can kill livestock such as horses if they swallow it. Some people can also have allergic reactions to it and end up with irritated skin. A post from the Palacerigg Community Trust initially warned parents about the situation. They then followed up with a second post issuing advice about the Countryside Code and how to stay safe in the park. It read: "We were attempting to educate as we had received a phone call from a concerned member of the public regarding young children picking and on one occasion eating Ragwort, which is toxic when ingested. "This was never meant as a Ragwort is a "bad plant" post. We have tried our best to rephrase this post in a positive light, so as still to educate people who are not as countryside savvy, but are out enjoying Palacerigg and who may require the guidance to avoid situations such as that reported." Part of the advice they issued urged people not to pick wildflowers. What does hogweed look like? They warned people could unknowingly pick up a poisonous plant. Their post continued: "It might seem harmless to pick a few blooms, but it can damage fragile ecosystems. "Many wildflowers are vital for pollinators like bees and butterflies, and some are even protected species. "Removing them can reduce biodiversity and affect the balance of nature. "Some plants have natural defences including thorns and being toxic when ingested, so can also be harmful to humans and animals." People visiting the park have also been urged not to wander of the footpaths to protect wildlife. They also were told to keep dogs on a lead which could stress or injure animals. Punters visiting the park were also told not to light any fires amid the horrific wildfires which have broken out across the country. We told in April how a horrific wildfire broke out at Palacerigg Country Park which was visible for miles.
