Bowel cancer patient calls for earlier screenings

Jess Mauger received an unexpected diagnosis at 50 after experiencing a "really bad gastric episode" on holiday

A woman in Guernsey is highlighting the importance of early bowel cancer screenings and the awareness of atypical symptoms after being diagnosed with the disease.

Jess Mauger received an unexpected diagnosis at 50 after experiencing a "really bad gastric episode" on holiday.

All 50 to 74-year-olds in England receive a home-testing kit for bowel cancer every two years, while in Guernsey the age range for qualification is 60 to 70.

Ms Mauger said she wanted to speak out about the issue "because one of the things I feel in Guernsey is quite lonely at the moment".

'We're operating now'

She said it was important to connect with others going through similar experiences.

"When you start talking about cancer, because it's a horrible word, you don't hear the 'and they're fine stories'," she said.

"Let's talk about that because I think for newly diagnosed people like me, that will be really, really beneficial."

Ms Mauger said, after returning from a trip to Tenerife where she looked "about six months pregnant" because she couldn't eat or go to the toilet, she visited the emergency department and was told "we're operating now".

Emergency surgery revealed a tumour blocking her bowel and the cancer had spread to her nearby lymph nodes.

"Everybody hears about check the loo, is there blood in your poo and things like that - for me, there were warning signs but none of them were really that," she said.

"It was a lot of gastric symptoms so I could almost see my stomach moving and food moving through."

She added she had since heard of people having similar experiences despite it not being a well known bowel cancer symptom.

"Anybody worried with that, self-advocate, go and see the doctor, get a laparoscopy and get diagnosed sooner rather than later," she said.

Earlier this week Guernsey's Public Health said nine out of 10 people survive bowel cancer, if it was found and treated early and that it was "actively exploring the possibility" of extending the age range.

Ms Mauger said: "I do understand if you're spending lots of money on screening and you're not getting any positives it outweighs... but I'm going to potentially have some very expensive chemotherapy drugs and a treatment plan with a whole team of people.

"If I'd had this on my 50th birthday, it might have been less at crisis point, it might not have spread to my lymph nodes.

"Again, it's about self-advocacy, looking out for symptoms, and really spreading that message.

"With home tests you could really save lives."