Latest news with #bowelcancer
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Former Black Fern Cheryl Waaka on facing cancer
sport health 30 minutes ago This week a group of healthworkers - including specialists, nurses and paramedics signed an open letter to MPs asking them to waive private healthcare during their time in office. It's an idea, that Mihingarangi Forbes put to former Black Fern Cheryl Waaka - who helped bring home two world cups. At just 55, Cheryl is facing a stage four bowel cancer diagnosis. She's too young to have been screened, and the drug she needs is not funded - she's got to find thirty thousand dollars by August.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Dad, 31, who had huge cancerous tumour in his bowel reveals the 'red flag' he ignored
A father-of-three who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at just 31-years-old has urged others not to dismiss a little-known sign of the aggressive disease. Chris Kirt started suffering irregular bowel movements and stomach cramps in August 2024 but he shrugged them off as nothing to worry about, reluctant to seek help. But, when he started experiencing one 'stand out' symptom, he knew it could be something more serious. 'The one red flag that was really worrying was actually the fact that I had zero pain when I was passing a bowel movement and there was blood,' he told his 12,000 TikTok followers. 'This was the thing that scared me to death more than anything and I knew in my heart it was cancer.' Recalling the run-up to his devastating diagnosis he said: 'There were the typical symptoms you'd expect: irregular bowel movements, cramps, urgency to got the bathroom, not being able to go to the bathroom. 'But this stood out more than anything. When you have blood you expect to have some sort of pain. There was zero pain for me.' According to the NHS, bowel cancer sufferers may experience bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool, but this can be painless. @official_chriskirt Still groggy from sedation, I looked at the screen and knew something was seriously wrong. This is the raw story of how my colonoscopy revealed my cancer. It's a tough journey, but an important one to share. Don't ignore the signs. Follow for Part 2 to see what happened next. #coloncancer #cancerfighter #cancersucks #menshealth ♬ Pieces (Solo Piano Version) - Danilo Stankovic An anal fissure—a small tear in the anus that usually is not serious—causes severe sharp pain typically accompanied by bright red blood. Mr Kirt added: 'I was losing thick, dark red blood which was light to begin with dark at the end with zero pain whatsoever.' Common symptoms of bowel cancer include bleeding from the rectum, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, extreme fatigue and needing to go to the toilet with more urgency than usual. Despite knowing that something was wrong, a long waiting list stood between Mr Kirt and a explorative colonoscopy to check inside his bowels to identify exactly what was causing his symptoms. As his condition rapidly deteriorated, Mr Kirt decided to pay for the procedure privately, desperate to get a diagnosis. Speaking about the colonoscopy that finally revealed his cancer, he said: 'I had been sedated, but I still aware of what's going on. 'I look at the screen and the first thing I see is this big giant snotty ball on the side of my colon. 'I know it's not right. The room goes quiet. The doctors aren't saying anything. I look at the screen and say what is that—that's cancer.' 'I don't remember anything after that. 'I woke up and I was in the recovery room. I see a doctor to my left with a notepad and a few nurses to my right and I immediately knew it wasn't good.' The newly-engaged software developer has since undergone surgery to have a third of his bowel removed and is now in remission. There are around 44,100 new cases of bowel cancer every year in the UK, making it the third most common cancer. Cancer Research UK estimated over half of bowel cancer cases in the Uk are preventable. But cases are rising in young people, an alarming trend that experts have linked to modern diets, chemical exposure and mobile phone radiation. Although the vast majority of bowel cancer diagnoses affect those aged over 50, rates in older age-groups have held while diagnoses in youngsters are soaring. Rising obesity levels have led to a tripling of deaths from cancers linked to being overweight, American medics have warned. This included deaths from bowel and colon cancer, a form of the disease known to be mysteriously rising among young healthy adults under 50. While obesity is thought to be responsible for about 5 per cent of all cancers in the UK, this dramatically increases for certain types. For bowel cancer—which includes colon and rectal cancer—obesity or being overweight triggers 11 per cent of all cases of this disease. Men are especially at risk with research suggesting a man's risk of developing bowel cancer increases by 10 per cent for every 11lbs (5kg) he puts on in adulthood. While the disease is known linked to obesity, experts have noted that the disease also seems to also be occurring in fit and healthy patients. Some experts believe the explanation must lie in environmental factors young people have been exposed to more than previous generations. While no 'smoking gun' has been found, there are multiple theories. These include modern chemicals in diets, microplastics, pollution, and one recent study even pinned the surge on exposure to E. coli in food.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
New research exposes the risk of store-bought self-test kits
Researchers from the University of Birmingham have warned that high street self-tests for conditions like vitamin deficiencies, menopause, and bowel cancer may not be fit for purpose. A review of 30 self-tests found many lacked crucial information on who should use them, how to interpret results, or what actions to take afterwards. Concerns were raised about the accuracy claims of these tests, with evidence often being unavailable or of low quality, and 18 tests were deemed "high risk". Experts, including Professor Kristien Boelaert, highlighted the potential for "false reassurance" and increased demand on the NHS due to these unregulated products. Calls have been made for urgent, tighter regulation of the booming self-test market, which is projected to reach £660m by 2030 in the UK.
The Sun
17-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Agonising cramps, vomiting and odd poos – doctors dismissed them all as IBS but now I won't live to see my 30th birthday
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. 7 7 7 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 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 7 '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. '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.'
News.com.au
17-06-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Biocurious: Rhythm gets into the groove of predicting and preventing cancer
Rhythm Biosciences has expanded its original remit of bowel cancer to diagnosing other cancers early in the piece The company late last year acquired the Genetype platform from the administrators of Genetic Technologies Rhythm is developing its blood-based bowel cancer assay Colostat as a laboratory test Cancer diagnostics house Rhythm Biosciences (ASX:RHY) goes by the age-old seamstress lore that a stitch in time saves nine. In the case of common cancers, treating them later is much more expensive than if they are detected early. 'Without screening, cancers are diagnosed at late stage, by which time the cost of treatment is much greater,' says Rhythm CEO Dr David Atkins. In the case of bowel cancer, Australians aged between 50 and 75 are eligible for a free biennial test, delivered to their door. One problem is fewer than half of the 'poo tests' – more formally known as faecal occult tests (FOTs) – are returned. The program is costly to run. Another is that the disease increasingly is being detected in the under 50s, which account for 20% of all cases. The reasons are unclear. One hypothesis is exposure to a particular e-coli toxin in early childhood, possibly more prolific because of antibiotics use, caesarean births or probiotics. Others blame wheat-based diets. 'We have good screening programs, but the economics are such that we can't really go below 50 years old,'' Atkins says. Getting into the Rhythm Rhythm is working on a double-banger solution to early detection not just of bowel cancer – its original remit – but other tumours as well. The company has been developing Colostat, a minimally invasive blood-based test that detects certain protein biomarkers. The tech had its origins from within the hallowed halls of the CSIRO, more than two decades ago. 'Our goal is to provide a simple inexpensive lab-based test that will be equivalent to the stool-based test for the symptomatic patient,' Atkins says. Late last year Rhythm acquired a testing platform, Genetype, from the administrators of the failed listed Genetic Technologies. Genetype tests an individual's genetic propensity to get cancer. 'The two platforms work hand in hand,' Atkins says. 'Genetype is the earliest possible point at which you can detect disease, while Colostat is able to detect disease once it has actually formed.' For many people, FOT is not the right fit Many recipients are unwilling to carry out the FOT test for religious or cultural reasons – or simply squeamishness. Requiring two samples over two days, the test is somewhat cumbersome. But Atkins says Colostat is unlikely to replace FOTs for routine screening. 'Screening tests anywhere take a long time to be adopted and authorities would be reluctant to disturb the status quo'. Rather, Colostat is likely to be an 'adjunct or alternative to the current standard of care' for the symptomatic population. In other words, the test would be used by GPs on doctors on the small minority of patients that present with symptoms. 'Unfortunately, in Australia most of the circa 15,000 cases diagnosed annually results from patients going to their doctor with symptoms,' Atkins says. 'Doctors need a solution to determine whether they can send the individuals for a colonoscopy, or send them home.' The clinicians obtain a result within 24 hours, rather than a week or more for the FOT test. The flipside of effective detection is avoiding overservicing. If the patient goes home safely, that's a big plus for the health system. Atkins notes that Australian clinics carry out one million colonoscopies annually. Given the detection figure of 15,000 patients, many are unnecessary and 'result in unnecessary cost and stress.' Clinical tests have shown that Colostat is more effective at detecting cancer than a FOT test, which detects blood in the stools. But this could also be a sign of polyps, ulcers, or hemorrhoids. That said, Rhythm is happy with mere equivalency. After all, the Colostat test always will be more effective than an unused poo test. Pursuing the lab-based route On March 6, 2023, Rhythm shares tumbled 45% after the company withdrew its 1300-page marketing application to the local Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The company felt it was unable to provide the information the agency requested within the requisite 20 business days. Initially, Rhythm planned to resubmit to the TGA, but now plans to commercialise Colostat via the laboratory-developed test route. 'Lab based' refers to the common path of shipping the test to an appropriately certified lab, which acts as the quality gatekeeper. Certification means National Association of Testing Authorities accreditation. The lab-based route obviates the need for TGA approval for general dispersal. 'Most new diagnostics go down the lab path,' Atkins says. 'It's rare for a new diagnostics company to put an assay in a box and try to get TGA approval, which is an expensive and difficult path.' In the case of Colostat, one or two labs nationally could handle the processing, so the lab route is not that arduous. 'We're not going to need hundreds of labs running our assays in future, but we will need more than one.' Atkins, who joined Rhythm a year ago says: 'We have focused on taking the work the previous team has done and leveraging that so we can get a high-quality product to market.' This work includes reformulating the protein biomarkers that Colostat detects, using a single simplified assay. 'We are finalising the verification validation for the assay to ensure it does what it says on the label.' Predicting cancer risk The Genetype tests are a mix of genomic data and clinical and demographic history. 'The selling point for Genetype is that it gives insights into individuals' risk profiles that they otherwise wouldn't get,' Atkins says. The Genetype acquisition transforms Rhythm from development stage to a revenue-generating business, Rhythm paid $625,000 for Genetype – less these days than a house in Darwin or Hobart. Atkins says Genetic Technologies spent 'comfortably more' than that on developing Genetype over more than a decade. In the year to June 2024 Genetic Technologies derived $134,085 of revenue from Genetype, 200% higher than the previous year. Atkins says Rhythm primarily has acquired the know-how behind Genetype – seven key staff members stayed on – as well as a watertight patent portfolio and US and local lab licences. Rhythm also obtains the medical history of several thousand patients which it ultimately could use for R&D. "This is incredibly valuable," Atkins says. Won't make the same mistake Atkins says Genetic Technologies tried to sell Genetype directly to consumers. In reality, physicians need to request the test. 'We are focused on partners who either are GP networks or have GPs within their system. For example, employee management groups, insurers, clinical networks and laboratories.' Health insurers could carry out the test routinely, as part of health checks. Atkins says there's a sizeable market of consumers willing to pay out of pocket for the test, ranging from 'worried well' those already deemed high risk. Nonetheless, the company is exploring reimbursement. Atkins says while the US is the obvious market, Europe and China are also challenging but appealing. 'We are not ignoring Australia – the tenth biggest global health wellness market based on out-of-pocket payments,' he says. 'GPs tell us there is a real appetite for individuals to invest in their own health.' Meanwhile, Rhythm expects Colostat revenue to flow from 2026. Following that, the company hopes to expand the assay to six other tumours, including lung cancer. 'The next 12 to 18 months for Rhythm should be truly transformational,' Atkins says.
