A woman diagnosed with stage four cancer has shared the hidden symptoms doctors initially dismissed. Zoe Gardner-Lawson, 36, was told she had a urinary infection after developing persistent lower back pain in August 2024. Despite feeling “fit and healthy” before, the pain worsened, and she demanded a full-body CT after multiple failed antibiotic courses.

Two months later, doctors found a lime-sized tumour in her bowel causing a perforation. The cancer had spread to her liver, peritoneum, and stomach lymph nodes. Zoe underwent emergency surgery in October to remove the tumour. A biopsy confirmed it was a cancerous blastoma, requiring aggressive chemotherapy. “By my third dose, I’d really deteriorated,” she said, describing how her pain spread to her abdomen.

Zoe’s prognosis remains uncertain as she completes her fifth round of chemo, with a second surgery planned if she responds well. Reflecting on her journey, she advocates lowering the bowel cancer screening age to 30. “If my disease was caught earlier, it would’ve been easier to treat,” she stated.

She also launched a GoFundMe to support alternative treatments and ease financial strain. Symptoms of bowel cancer include changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain. For support, contact Macmillan Cancer Support at 0808 808 00 00.