Zoe Gardner-Lawson, 36, was misdiagnosed with a urine infection after complaining of dull back pain in August 2024. She was given antibiotics over the phone but worsened after three rounds, becoming “basically bedridden.” Eventually, the pain spread to her abdomen.

In September, a GP sent her to A\&E. While doctors first suspected kidney stones, a CT scan revealed no such issue. Blood tests showed extremely high inflammation markers (CRP of 364n/mol compared to the normal 52.9–91.9n/mol). She insisted on a full-body scan, which revealed a lime-sized bowel tumour that had perforated and spread to her liver, stomach lymph nodes, and peritoneum.

Zoe had emergency surgery and began intensive chemotherapy. “The plan is… I’ll need to be booked in for a second surgery,” she said. She is now undergoing her fifth round of chemo and awaits surgery based on her response.

Doctors believe the tumour may have been growing for up to four years. Zoe is pushing for bowel cancer screenings to start at age 30, saying, “If my disease was caught earlier, it would’ve been easier to treat.”

She has launched a GoFundMe to support alternative treatment and financial relief.