Dr Lauren Juyia, a Florida-based gynaecologist diagnosed her own stage 4 colon cancer by identifying two key symptoms that many might overlook. In 2022, at just 37, Dr Juyia detected the illness early enough to seek immediate treatment. Dr Juyia’s first sign was persistent fatigue, which began in August 2022. Initially, she brushed off her tiredness as a natural byproduct of her busy life and motherhood. "I thought it was just part of getting older," she admitted, noting that with two young children and a demanding career, afternoon fatigue felt normal.

However, when she also experienced a persistent "sense of pelvic heaviness," her medical instincts alarmed her. Feeling that something was amiss, she decided to investigate further, eventually arranging an ultrasound.

During the scan, the discovery of a significant pelvic mass confirmed her worst fears. The mass, which she likened to the size of a 16-week pregnancy, raised immediate red flags. "In obstetrics, we measure size by weeks of pregnancy, and I thought, ‘This mass is unusually large,’" she shared with Good Morning America. Medical evaluations soon followed, revealing abnormal growths near her ovary.

The diagnosis took an alarming turn when Dr Juyia observed that the mass had grown from 8cm to a staggering 24cm in just two weeks. Based on her medical background, she knew that benign tumours rarely exhibit such rapid growth, fueling her suspicion that the mass could be cancerous. Initially, she feared ovarian cancer due to the tumour’s location, but a more extensive analysis revealed stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to multiple organs, including her ovaries, uterus, omentum, appendix, and abdominal region.

By September 2022, Dr Juyia required extensive surgery to remove the cancerous growths. Surprisingly, despite the advanced stage of her cancer, her symptoms were minimal—only fatigue and pelvic heaviness had signalled the spread. She noted that in older patients, stage 4 cancer might typically induce far more severe symptoms, yet her busy lifestyle and youthful resilience may have masked the gravity of her condition.

Reflecting on her experience, Dr Juyia highlighted how easy it is to dismiss early signs. "I was a little tired in the afternoon for about two months, but as a mom with young kids who were still waking up at night, I didn't think much of needing an afternoon tea to keep me going," she said. She now advocates for awareness, particularly for younger people, urging them to pay close attention to changes in their energy levels and bodily sensations.

According to the NHS, colon or bowel cancer can present several other warning signs. Besides fatigue and pelvic discomfort, symptoms may include persistent changes in bowel habits (such as diarrhoea or constipation), rectal bleeding, blood in stools, abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss. Recognizing these signs early on can be life-saving, especially in younger individuals who may otherwise overlook them.

Following her diagnosis, Dr Juyia began a six-month chemotherapy regimen. She continued working throughout, finding comfort and purpose in caring for her patients, which she describes as therapeutic. In March 2023, she underwent another operation to remove an inactive tumour. By April, her test results showed no evidence of disease.

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