Health Journal Online

Tag: Terminal

  • ‘Healthy’ Woman With Terminal Colon Cancer Warns Of Unexpected Symptom

    ‘Healthy’ Woman With Terminal Colon Cancer Warns Of Unexpected Symptom

    A 57-year-old special education teacher from England deemed “fit and healthy” by those around her is now advised to receive end-of-life care after being diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. What makes her story even more alarming is that her only warning sign was an unusual symptom most people would not associate with cancer.

    Though the heartbreaking diagnosis came as a sudden blow to Karen Kennerley from Lancashire, England, she is determined to fight the disease and raise awareness among people about little-known signs of colon cancer.

    Colon cancer typically presents with digestive changes like persistent diarrhea, constipation, blood in the stool, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, or bloating. But Kennerley did not have any of these signs. All that she felt before her devastating diagnosis was a symptom that had nothing to do with her gut.

    “The scary thing is, I had no symptoms apart from a bit of fatigue,” she said. However, the mother of three who worked at a small school for special education kids thought it was just exhaustion from the work.

    “I went to my GP, who ran some blood tests, and referred me for a FIT test and then I was referred for a colonoscopy in January 2023. Everyone was telling me I was fit and healthy, that there was nothing to worry about but they were doing the tests to rule things out,” she recollected.

    During a routine colonoscopy, doctors found a seemingly harmless tumor, but their suspicions grew, and a biopsy soon confirmed the worst: it was cancerous. In June 2023, she underwent surgery to remove the tumor along with part of her large intestine, followed by eight grueling rounds of chemotherapy.

    Though her cancer was initially believed to be in remission, she was hospitalized in March 2024 with suspected appendicitis. However, scans revealed a devastating turn, her cancer had progressed to stage 4 and spread to the ovaries. The medics then advised her to receive palliative cancer treatments offered through the NHS.

    However, Kennerley is now determined to fight as she hopes to receive cancer treatments in Germany that promise her the best chance of survival. She is raising money to fund her treatment.

    “People with stage four cancer feel totally abandoned, I want to change that, not only for me but for everyone else going through this,” she added.

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  • Woman’s Skin Turns Yellow, Develops Flu-Like Symptoms Before Shocking Terminal Diagnosis

    Woman’s Skin Turns Yellow, Develops Flu-Like Symptoms Before Shocking Terminal Diagnosis

    For years, 38-year-old Laura Wharam, led an active, healthy life, believing she was in remission after a hard-fought battle with breast cancer. But when she recently developed strange flu-like symptoms and noticed her skin turning yellow, little did she imagine that it would lead to a devastating diagnosis. Her cancer has returned aggressively at stage 4, leaving her with no cure and only months to live.

    Wharam from London, in the U.K., was initially diagnosed with breast cancer that led to a double mastectomy in 2021. “We thought it was all going well from there. She was feeling super strong – she was active. But then it all changed at the start of this year,” said her partner Jake Watt.

    But Wharam began feeling unwell last month, experiencing fatigue and losing her appetite. Soon, she noticed her skin turning yellow and was rushed to the hospital, suspecting an infected appendix. Instead, what awaited her was a life-changing diagnosis.

    “It was the worst possible news. It’s such a shock to the system. I’ve cried every day since the diagnosis. It’s been such a whirlwind,” Watt recollected.

    Wharam’s cancer has now spread to other parts of her body with little treatment left. “Laura’s cancer is incurable, but she’s having chemotherapy to try to slow it down. Doctors have said the worst-case scenario is a couple of months, the best-case scenario is a couple of years,” said Watt.

    Now, the couple faces an unimaginable situation where Wharam cannot continue her work and should start thinking about her end-of-life care. In an effort to support her during this difficult time, Watt has set up a GoFundMe page.

    “She can’t work at the moment and London is expensive. We also have to start preparing for end-of-life care. We just want to alleviate that financial burden,” Watt said.

    While many are familiar with the typical signs of breast cancer, such as changes to the nipple or a lump, it’s important to remember that not all forms present these obvious symptoms. In many cases, mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat.

    When breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body such as the bones, lungs, or brain, the symptoms can be very different. Secondary breast cancer often brings a range of general symptoms, including overwhelming tiredness, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, nausea, and pain. Yellowing of the skin can be a sign that cancer has spread to the liver.

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