Jump directly to the content
'MY CANCER CHALLENGE JUST GOT BIGGER'

Stunning mum-of-two diagnosed with bowel cancer at just 35 learns it’s now spread to her lungs

CANCER is scary.

And it came like a bolt out of the blue for fit and healthy 35-year-old Deborah James.

Deborah James was told by doctors this week her bowel cancer has spread to both her lungs
12
Deborah James was told by doctors this week her bowel cancer has spread to both her lungsCredit: Deborah James
Deborah has been a vegetarian for 25 years, and at the age of 35 is a very unlikely candidate for bowel cancer
12
Deborah has been a vegetarian for 25 years, and at the age of 35 is a very unlikely candidate for bowel cancer
The mum-of-two was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in December, and had an op to remove a 6cm tumour
12
The mum-of-two was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in December, and had an op to remove a 6cm tumour
She was undergoing a six-month chemotherapy regime when doctors discovered the disease has spread and now she is waiting for another op
12
She was undergoing a six-month chemotherapy regime when doctors discovered the disease has spread and now she is waiting for another op

But, just as she managed to get her head around the news she was facing bowel cancer, the disease dealt the stunning mum-of-two another, much nastier blow.

Deborah's cancer has spread to both her lungs.

And now she faces another major op to remove the tumours, and a stronger, more gruelling chemotherapy regime.

Just before Christmas doctors discovered a 6cm tumour in Deborah's rectum - and diagnosed her with stage three bowel cancer, she told The Sun Online exclusively.

"My cancer journey is taking a whole different road now," she said.

";I have now been diagnosed with stage four cancer.

"What that means is my cancer has spread to another part of my body, they now think it's in my lungs."

MOST READ IN HEALTH

'Miracle' little girl born WITHOUT a face defies incredible odds to survive
BORN WITH NO FACE

'Miracle' little girl born WITHOUT a face defies incredible odds to survive

'Happy and outgoing' little girl is battling a condition so rare it has no name - so it may be named after her
MEDICAL MYSTERY

'Happy and outgoing' little girl is battling a condition so rare it has no name - so it may be named after her

Mum with rare disorder that means she vomits 60 TIMES a day is told she's an 'Oscar-winning actress lying about being bulimic'
SICK JIBES

Mum with rare disorder that means she vomits 60 TIMES a day is told she's an 'Oscar-winning actress lying about being bulimic'

What is bronchitis, what are the signs and symptoms and how dangerous is it?
OUT OF BREATH

What is bronchitis, what are the signs and symptoms and how dangerous is it?

Doctors told Deborah her disease had spread this week.

But, after being blindsided at her initial diagnosis, the 35-year-old admitted she always knew it could reach her lungs.

What's really knocked her for six, is the statistics she now faces.

"It is more getting my head around the idea my odds have dropped dramatically," The Sun's bowel cancer champion said.

"Cancer is scary, and stage three cancer is even scarier.

"Stage four puts you right back into that dark place.

Deborah showing off the scar left from her op to remove a 6cm tumour
12
Deborah showing off the scar left from her op to remove a 6cm tumour
Learning her cancer is now stage four - the most advanced stage - "puts you right back in a dark place", Deborah told The Sun Online
12
Learning her cancer is now stage four - the most advanced stage - "puts you right back in a dark place", Deborah told The Sun OnlineCredit: Deborah James
Deborah said her cancer challenge has now got much bigger, as she faces an operation to remove tumours in both lungs
12
Deborah said her cancer challenge has now got much bigger, as she faces an operation to remove tumours in both lungs
She said the hardest thing is knowing realistically she may not see her children, Hugo and Eloise grow up
12
She said the hardest thing is knowing realistically she may not see her children, Hugo and Eloise grow up

"I am going to stay optimistic, but I know the goalposts have changed.

"Things were looking quite positive but now it is certainly a different game, it's more of a challenge."

On Tuesday, Deborah's oncologist told the mum-of-two her treatment plan will now change.

"The plan of action at the moment is that I will undergo another major op at the Royal Brompton Hospital," Deborah told The Sun Online.

"Then I will start second line chemo, it's more aggressive and now means I might lose my hair."

WHAT ARE THE KEY SIGNS OF BOWEL CANCER?

Bowel cancer can be treated, but the earlier it is diagnosed the better a patient’s chance of survival.

If you suffer any symptoms, however embarrassing you may think they are, go to see your doctor.

GPs deal with bowels, tummy problems, diarrhoea and all sorts on a regular basis, so what may seem grim to you, is part of their normal working day.

The key signs you could have bowel cancer include:

  • bleeding from your bottom, and/or blood in your poo
  • a change in bowel habit lasting three weeks or longer
  • unexplained weight loss
  • extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
  • a pain or lump in your tummy

Most of the time, a person suffering these symptoms won’t have bowel cancer.

Other health problems can cause similar symptoms, but it is vital doctors rule out cancer early on.

Source:

Deborah's condition will be continuously monitored, so doctors can stay ahead of where the cancer is spreading.

"There are lots of options," she said.

"My doctor's words to me were, 'I will do everything that's humanly possible to keep you alive'.

"At that point I cried.

"He's still optimistic he can make me disease free, but this could change at any time now.

"The journey that I'm about to go on is very volatile one."

Deborah and her husband Sebastien have chosen not to tell their children her cancer has spread
12
Deborah and her husband Sebastien have chosen not to tell their children her cancer has spreadCredit: Deborah James
Deborah said she is determined to remain positive, but added she knows the goalposts have changed
12
Deborah said she is determined to remain positive, but added she knows the goalposts have changedCredit: Deborah James
After her lung op, Deborah is expecting to start a more aggressive round of chemo, which could mean she will lose her hair
12
After her lung op, Deborah is expecting to start a more aggressive round of chemo, which could mean she will lose her hair

While Deborah and her husband Sebastien have told their children, Hugo, nine and seven-year-old Eloise, their mum has cancer, they haven't told them the disease has spread.

"Cancer is cancer to them," the 35-year-old said.

"I am not going to start talking about mummy dying, my doctor hasn't had that chat with me and I could be really lucky."

 

My cancer journey is taking a whole different road now. Cancer is scary, and stage three cancer is even scarier. Stage four puts you right back into that dark place

Deborah James

Like many people her age, Deborah had visited doctors countless times, complaining of changed bowel habits.

Her symptoms were put down to irritable bowel syndrome.

But for six months before her diagnosis she started to notice blood in her stools, and it was getting worse.

Speaking on the first day of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Deborah said the last week has made her even more determined to raise awareness to help others.

She said: "My journey has become even more scary.

"But if through it I can help even just one person avoid what I am having to face it will be worth it.

Deborah said she is more determined than ever to raise awareness and spare others the ordeal she is facing
12
Deborah said she is more determined than ever to raise awareness and spare others the ordeal she is facingCredit: Deborah James

"If I can help one other young mum not have to face the thought of not seeing their children grow up.

"It is now more realistic that I won't get to see my children grow up, I don't want other people to go through that.

"If my speaking out helps one person recognise the signs of bowel cancer earlier, and helps them get an early diagnosis, it's worth it."

Like many people in her situation, Deborah admitted she did start to write a life wish list.

But, as she began to write, she realised most were things she expected to do in her 60s.

NEW TOOL TO HELP GPs DIAGNOSE YOUNG BOWEL CANCER PATIENTS FASTER

A NEW tool that calculates a person's risk of developing bowel cancer is designed to speed up diagnosis and save young patients' lives.

GPs will now be able to combine symptoms with blood test results to measure a patient's likelihood of the disease as a percentage.

Based on the result, they can then decide whether a young patient needs to see a specialist for futher tests.

The symptoms of bowel cancer are common and account for one in 12 GP appointments.

But in most cases, cancer isn't the cause so it can be hard for GPs to determine which patients are at serious risk.

Deborah Alsina, CEO of , who helped developed the new tool as part of their , welcomed the "exciting" step forward.

"Delayed diagnosis is all too common for young patients with both bowel cancer and inflammatory bowel disease, therefore finding quicker, more effective ways to identify and diagnose these patients earlier is crucial.

"Our research shows that one in five young people have to visit their GP five times or more before they get their diagnosis and this is simply not acceptable."

You just expect that you will make it to your 60s," she reflected.

"Actually, I think I always just took it for granted that there would be a tomorrow.

"The thought that there might not be a tomorrow does make you look differently at your life today, and how you are going to live it."

"In 10 years time, I hope stage four bowel cancer is a very rare thing," she added.

"I hope we will get to a point where diagnosis happens early enough to make this a disease that most people survive.

"I hope my children will never have to go through what I am, I hope for a day when no one has to go through this."


We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368

 

Topics
YOU MIGHT LIKE
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MORE FOR YOU