At just 25, Ellie Wilcock never imagined that a simple stomach pain could change her life forever.
It started like any other infection. “I thought it was just a UTI,” she said. “I’d had them before — I didn’t think much of it.” But the pain grew worse. Tests came back clear. Then scans revealed something Ellie could hardly believe — stage-four bowel cancer. It had already spread to her liver, ovaries, and abdomen.
“I was in complete shock,” said Ellie, now 27, from Peterborough. “Cancer was something that happened to older people — not me.” She began treatment, enduring multiple surgeries and months of chemotherapy. Through it all, she drew strength from the late Dame Deborah James, who inspired millions before losing her own battle in 2022. “Deborah made cancer feel human,” Ellie shared. “She showed me that you can still live with hope.”
Against all odds, Ellie’s doctors declared her cancer-free in August 2022. Now she’s using her story to warn others: never ignore your body. “If something feels off, don’t wait. It might just save your life.”
Experts say bowel cancer is rising fast among younger adults — and no one yet knows why. But Ellie’s message is clear: listen to your body, because it’s the only one you’ve got.
