A Ballybrittas woman is sharing her experience of bowel cancer in a bid to increase awareness of the second most common of all cancers in men and the third most common of all cancers in women in this country.
Jennifer Deegan, a 45-year-old solo parent of a son and a daughter, aged seven and ten, provides emotional support to victims of crime and their families in the criminal courts.
In September 2023, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer.
“I had cancer inside my colon and lymph nodes. I was operated on quickly and two months later, I began preventative chemotherapy of which I am nearing the end,” said Jennifer.
“Was I shocked? No. Was I relieved? Yes, I knew for years that something was wrong as I had many scans which did not pick up on my festering growth,” she said.
Over Christmas 2022, Jennifer read an article about Kirstie Alley from the sitcom Cheers and how it ultimately helped to change her life.
“She visited her doctor in May that year with back pain and passed away in December from colon cancer.
“I was drawn to the article because of her status and was scared to see that her symptoms were overly similar to my own – stomach pain and spasms, right side pain above the hip bone, lower back pain and changes to my bowels.
“A follow-on from that article was a colonoscopy which I requested from my then GP. Ironically an ‘80s icon changed my life.”
Research in the UK has built on other studies that show that the number of people under 50 diagnosed with bowel cancer is on the increase.
And Jennifer offered her thoughts on why she thinks that is.
She said: “I believe the sudden rise in bowel cancer is due to mobile phone usage, supermarket ‘healthy’ foods and our society of today – people are very angry and reactive.
“I witnessed this aggression recently in the A & E department in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, where the level of abuse inflicted on the staff was disgusting and shameful.”
Jennifer’s approach to cancer has been proactive and positive from day one.
She said: “I have 100 per cent embraced the journey and feel very strongly about making people aware of such a silent disease that has become rampant among the under 50s.
“Thankfully awareness is becoming more prevalent on a national level and it is quite a hot topic of late.”
According to the Marie Keating Foundation, symptoms of bowel cancer may include: bright red or dark blood in your stools; unexplained weight loss; a change in normal bowel habits lasting longer than six weeks, especially if your stool becomes runny or loose; pain in your stomach area or back passage; and a feeling of not having emptied your bowel properly after having gone to the toilet.
Anyone concerned that they may have bowel cancer should, Jennifer recommends, ask questions of their GP.
Jennifer said: “Have a phone detox. Spend time with yourself and your family, get out in the fresh air.
“Keep toxic food and people at a distance and don’t let the fear of cancer and chemo stop you from seeking help.”
Jennifer documents her journey on social media @mother_the_gut to spread awareness and let people see that life goes on regardless.
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