A bowel cancer survivor has issued a stark health warning after her disease went undetected despite the absence of one of its most common symptoms.
Laura, who was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer, said she never experienced blood in her stool — a sign widely associated with the disease — making her cancer harder to identify. Sharing her story on TikTok, she stressed that bowel cancer can present very differently from person to person.
“I had no blood and I had stage three bowel cancer,” Laura said in the video. “That’s the really sneaky thing about bowel cancer. You can have none of the symptoms, all of them, or just a few subtle signs.”
Laura explained that her cancer was only discovered by chance, after she went to donate blood and was told she had low iron levels, a possible indicator of underlying illness.
She urged people to stay alert to changes in their health and not rely on a single symptom. “You don’t have to see blood for it to be bowel cancer,” she said. “But equally, you could see blood and it not be bowel cancer. You can’t make that decision yourself — you need to get checked.”
Laura also highlighted that age should not provide false reassurance. “You can never be too young — I was only 38,” she said, adding that anyone who notices concerning symptoms should speak to their GP without delay.
Her warning prompted others to share similar experiences. One survivor said their cancer was discovered during emergency treatment for suspected appendicitis, while another described having no symptoms until a near-total bowel blockage caused severe swelling and pain.
According to the NHS, possible symptoms of bowel cancer include persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain or bloating, and fatigue or shortness of breath linked to anaemia. Health experts advise anyone experiencing ongoing or unusual symptoms to seek medical advice promptly.
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