A growing number of young women are being diagnosed with bowel cancer only after the disease has become incurable, often because early warning signs are mistaken for the expected physical tolls of new motherhood or perimenopause. Although bowel cancer has long been viewed as a disease of the elderly, one in five diagnoses now occur in people under 55, creating a critical gap in how primary care providers recognize and respond to symptoms in younger female patients.
For Leeanne Davies-Grassnick, 42, the red flags arrived during the first few months of motherhood. After years of working as a City banker, the London-based mother experienced intense fatigue and rapid weight loss. She attributed these changes to the sleeplessness of breastfeeding and the physical demands of caring for a newborn.
The situation escalated during a holiday in Corfu in April 2022, when Leeanne began experiencing intense pain in her right-hand ribcage. Even as the pain intensified, she focused on soothing her teething child, pushing her own suffering aside. Upon returning to London, the pain became unbearable. Two days later, she was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer that had already spread to her liver, rendering the disease incurable.
The danger of overlapping symptoms
Medical experts warn that Leeanne’s experience is not an isolated incident. The tragedy of delayed diagnosis often stems from the fact that the early indicators of bowel cancer overlap with common hormonal and life-stage transitions.
Professor Willie Hamilton, a former GP and expert on colon cancer diagnosis, explains that fatigue—a primary symptom of colon cancer—is often caused by anaemia resulting from blood loss from a tumor. However, perimenopausal women often experience heavier periods, which can also lead to anaemia and tiredness. Similarly, colorectal surgeon Mr. Pasha Nisar notes that the postpartum period can involve extreme exhaustion and blood in the stool due to birth trauma or pregnancy-induced haemorrhoids.
This overlap extends to other conditions. Pelvic and abdominal pain can be attributed to ovarian cysts, fibroids, or endometriosis, leading both patients and physicians to overlook the possibility of malignancy.
The consequences of these assumptions have been fatal. Mel Schilling, a relationship expert who passed away last month at age 54, believed her abdominal pain, constipation, and fatigue were symptoms of menopause. Similarly, bowel cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James, who died in 2022, attributed her changing bowel habits and weight loss to the stress of balancing a full-time career with motherhood.
Understanding the FIT Test
The Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is a non-invasive, at-home stool test used to detect trace amounts of blood that are not visible to the naked eye. It is significantly faster and less invasive than a colonoscopy. While a positive FIT test does not automatically indicate cancer is present, it serves as a critical trigger for further diagnostic imaging or a colonoscopy to rule out malignancy.
Systemic barriers and medical misogyny
Beyond biological overlap, We find systemic reasons why women may face delayed diagnoses. Lowri Dowthwaite-Walsh of the University of Central Lancashire points to “medical misogyny”—a systemic prejudice where women’s health concerns are underplayed or attributed to stress and hormones. This is compounded by a social expectation that women prioritize the health of their children and families over their own.
Data reflects this perceived gap in care. A Mumsnet survey of over 100,000 posts from 2015 to 2025 found that nearly 70% of British women believe the NHS does not accept women’s health concerns seriously, with half reporting they had been dismissed or ignored by healthcare professionals because of their sex.
Professor Hamilton also notes a paradoxical risk: because women are generally more likely to visit their GP than men, they may not trigger the “alarm bell” for a physician. GPs are often more alert to bowel cancer when a patient who has not visited in years suddenly appears with symptoms. Frequent attenders may be viewed through the lens of their existing health history, causing the “lightbulb” to fail to go off.
Advocating for early detection
Even medical professionals are not immune to these biases. Dr. Philippa Kaye, a family doctor, was diagnosed with bowel cancer at age 39 after initially attributing a dull pelvic ache to three previous C-sections. Her cancer was only caught after her gynaecologist insisted on a referral to a bowel surgeon.
To combat late diagnoses, Genevieve Edwards, CEO of Bowel Cancer UK, encourages women to be persistent and precise. Rather than describing “vague changes,” she suggests using a symptoms diary to provide clinicians with concrete data.
The most critical step for those with concerns is to specifically request a FIT test. Because these tests are inexpensive and available in practices across Britain, they provide a rapid way to either rule out serious concerns or speedy-track a patient toward life-saving treatment.
For Leeanne, who now undergoes chemotherapy, the goal is awareness. She notes that many mothers in her treatment room are in similar positions, often having ignored the same signs. “We have to learn from each other’s stories,” she says, “and how to bring it up with your doctor as quickly as possible.”
Analytical Q&A
Why is bowel cancer increasing in people under 55?
While the source confirms a spike in cases—with one in five diagnoses now occurring in this age group—the specific biological or environmental drivers for this increase are not detailed in the provided materials.
Is a FIT test a definitive diagnosis for cancer?
No. A FIT test detects blood in the stool. While blood can be a sign of cancer, it can also be caused by other issues. A positive result indicates that further testing, such as a colonoscopy, is required.
What are the primary “red flag” symptoms for young women to monitor?
Key signs include unexplained fatigue, rapid weight loss, blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits, and persistent abdominal or pelvic pain.
If you have experienced persistent symptoms that were dismissed as hormonal or stress-related, have you considered asking your provider for a specific diagnostic test like the FIT test?
