Mum’s appeal after shock stage four cancer diagnosis

Mum’s appeal after shock stage four cancer diagnosis

17 July 2019

A DOWNPATRICK mum who is fighting stage four bowel cancer has urged people to “listen to their gut” and push for medical testing if they feel something is badly wrong.

Catharine Mcauley is also calling for the government to lower the age of bowel cancer screening.

The 36 year-old, who had her third child, Rosie, in February, was devastated to be told nine weeks ago that she had cancer.

After two years of thinking that something was badly wrong with her health, a 5cm tumour was only discovered when her bowel perforated and she was rushed to hospital with suspected sepsis.

The bowel trauma tragically led to cancer cells being spread throughout her body and as a result Catharine now has secondary cancer in her liver.

As she prepares to go through a second course of chemotherapy today, the popular nail salon owner told the Recorder how her tumour was missed and how a simple test could have diagnosed it earlier.

“I had been feeling unwell and had symptoms for about two years before I took ill,” said Catharine. “When I went to my GP I was told that it could have been down to stress or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as I was planning my wedding to my husband Patrick in 2017.

“I went for a colonoscopy and it missed my tumour by an inch. Things got progressively worse but when I got pregnant with Rosie the symptoms went away and I could not undertake any more tests.

“My consultant at the Ulster Hospital told me that a woman’s body is a miracle and it takes over to look after the baby. He also said that it was a miracle that Rosie was born full-term but once I got home from hospital the symptoms were just dreadful. I can’t believe that I lasted 13 weeks breastfeeding her before I took really ill.

“I don’t know when my bowel perforated but I developed flu-like symptoms and went to the hospital emergency department for treatment.”

She continued: “I was devastated when I got the news in hospital. They did another CT scan. I knew straight away it was bad when they closed the door and just said, ‘Catharine you’re got cancer’. Then I was rushed to Ulster Hospital for emergency surgery where they removed the tumour.”

Catharine is being resolute in fighting her cancer as much for herself and for her husband, Patrick, and three children — Joshua, Bobby and baby Rosie.

“No matter how bad things are for me, I know that there are others who are worse off,” she said. 

“My consultant has said that he is prepared to throw everything at the cancer bar the kitchen sink because I’m so young and I will do everything I can to do my part.”

Catharine’s four months of chemo will be followed by surgery to remove the cancer in her liver and further chemotherapy.

Bowel screening — a simple test of a person’s faeces to see if there is blood in it — is carried out every two years on people over the age of 60 in the UK.

Catharine said: “I really think that the government should lower the screening age from 60 to include people of my age and younger as I’m proof that it can happen. If someone goes to a GP showing these symptoms, there should be given that screening test.

Catharine also pointed out the symptoms that people should be aware of are — bleeding from the bottom, blood in faeces, a persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit, unexplained weight loss, extreme tiredness for no obvious reason or a pain or lump in the stomach.

She added: “Please don’t ignore symptoms as it’s just so important to have everything checked out and to fight for more tests if you believe that something is very wrong. Listen to your gut feeling.”