A 31-year-old father-of-three has urged others to watch for bowel cancer signs. Chris Kirt says he ignored early symptoms before one detail scared him.
Early Symptoms He Brushed Off
First, Kirt had irregular bowel movements and stomach cramps in August 2024. He also felt urgency and sometimes could not go at all. He delayed seeking help because he thought it was nothing serious. His health then worsened as the symptoms continued.
The Red Flag That Changed Everything
Next, he noticed bleeding with no pain during bowel movements. He said that painless blood made him fear cancer immediately. The NHS says bowel cancer bleeding can be painless. By contrast, an anal fissure is a small tear that usually hurts sharply. Kirt said his bleeding was thick and dark red.
Tests, Diagnosis, and Recovery
Also, a long wait for an exploratory colonoscopy delayed answers. A colonoscopy is a camera test inside the bowel. Kirt used private insurance and paid for the test, which would cost over £1,700. Doctors found a large tumour and later confirmed stage 2 bowel cancer. He had surgery to remove a third of his bowel and is now in remission.
Finally, Kirt says he learned to push for medical help and speak up. He now campaigns to lower screening ages and improve access for high-risk people.