For thirty years, colorectal cancers have increased at an alarming rate among those under 50. In France, nearly 45,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and more than 18,000 people die. Among them, more and more young adults. This is the case of Ellie Wilcock, a British mother now in remission from stage 4 colorectal cancer. On TikTok, she shared the four symptoms which, according to her, should have pushed her to seek medical help sooner: “If they had been identified earlier, they would have allowed for earlier treatment.“.
Pain confused with a urinary infection
It all started with unusual pain. “I had persistent pain on the left side of my stomach, near my pubic area.“, says Ellie Wilcock. “For a long time I thought it was a urinary infection, because it radiated down my back. But urine tests came back negative“. A seemingly banal discomfort, which turned out to be the first sign of colon cancer.
Abnormal fatigue and loss of appetite
The second, more insidious warning sign was extreme fatigue. “Before I got sick, when I came home from work, I still had the energy to do a little sport, go see a friend or cook. There, I was constantly exhausted. When I got home I fell asleep almost immediately“, she remembers. This chronic weariness, often attributed to stress or a lack of sleep, sometimes hides more serious problems.
Another often overlooked symptom: loss of appetite. “Cancer didn’t really make me lose weight, contrary to what you read on medical websites. On the other hand, my appetite has practically disappeared. At meal time, I felt nauseous, I didn’t want to eat…“. A discreet but frequent sign, which can precede other more visible manifestations.
Blood in the stool: a signal that should never be ignored
The most striking symptom remains the presence of blood in the stools. Ellie Wilcock insists: “Look at your stools. It’s really important“.”When I got cancer, I started having blood in my stools. That should have worried me immediately!“. This sign, often minimized out of embarrassment or modesty, is nevertheless one of the earliest indicators of colorectal cancer.
Other signs to watch for
Ellie Wilcock’s testimony reminds us of the importance of paying attention to your body. Other symptoms may also indicate colorectal cancer:
- Intermittent abdominal pain accompanied by bloating or temporary diarrhea;
- Persistent feelings of heaviness or flatulence;
- Alternating diarrhea and constipation;
- Unexplained anemia which may reveal occult bleeding;
- Traces of black or red blood in the stools.
Early detection remains essential: when cancer is identified at an early stage, the five-year survival rate exceeds 90%. Ellie Wilcock’s message resonates as a call to no longer trivialize everyday signals.