Matt Eames, 44, spent the weekend at a barbecue party with his family and friends. During the party, he suffered severe, stabbing pain in his stomach. Matt ignored it, thinking it was probably due to the bad sausage he ate at the party. He took a painkiller and ignored it, but the pain did not subside; Rather, it increased further.
When Matt was celebrating his son’s second birthday, the pain worsened. Despite the cramps and discomfort, he tried to keep his courage, but his wife, Sarah, insisted on taking him to a nearby hospital. Tests at a hospital in Surrey, UK, revealed that he had a large blockage in his intestines, which was later diagnosed as stage 4 bowel cancer.
What are the early symptoms of this cancer?
Doctors said that sharp, cramping pain in the stomach can be one of the early warning signs of bowel cancer, which people often ignore as gas or normal stomach pain. Matt had surgery to remove the tumor and then received six months of chemotherapy. However, during treatment, it was discovered that the cancer had spread to his liver and the inner lining of his stomach (peritoneum).
Doctors discovered that Matt had the BRAF mutation, a genetic change that causes cancer cells to grow and spread too quickly. The condition was so serious that doctors gave him only a few months to live. However, he was then given a new type of immunotherapy, which included cetuximab infusions and a drug called encorafenib. The effect of these medicines was tremendous, and Matt’s condition began to improve.
How does bowel cancer start?
Bowel cancer, also called colon cancer, usually begins in small polyps that form in the inner lining of the intestines. If these polyps are not removed in time, they can become cancerous and spread to other parts of the body through lymph nodes or the bloodstream. According to experts, early symptoms of bowel cancer do not occur often. However, persistent stomach pain, blood in stool, flatulence, sudden weight loss, vomiting, fatigue and shortness of breath should never be ignored.
What do doctors say?
Doctors say smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, excessive consumption of junk food, red and processed meat, and lack of physical activity can increase the risk of bowel cancer. Timely screening and lifestyle changes are considered to be the most effective ways to avoid this serious disease.