Chris Kirt was just 31 when he was diagnosed with colon cancer after experiencing five symptoms including night sweats and unexpected tiredness, and he’s now urging people to take any signs seriously
A 31-year-old man is urging people to recognise the five seemingly normal symptoms he experienced in the months leading up to his colon cancer diagnosis(Image: Getty Images)
A man is urging people to pay attention to their toilet habits after five seemingly normal symptoms he experienced turned out to be warning signs of bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in Ireland, according to the HSE. It is the second most common cancer in men and the third most common cancer in women in Ireland.
Chris Kirt was just 31 years old when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer, but getting the diagnosis wasn’t straightforward. He has previously spoken about his frustration over delays in having his health concerns taken seriously and investigated.
This prompted him to arrange a private healthcare screening, following hold-ups in receiving results from the NHS after a stool test. During the screening, doctors discovered a five-centimetre tumour in his descending colon.
Two months later, he underwent surgery to remove the tumour. He then faced a further four-week wait before receiving the news that he was officially cancer-free, just days before Christmas, which he celebrated at home with his fiancée and their baby daughter.
Chris is now actively raising awareness of bowel cancer, amassing thousands of followers on TikTok by sharing his experience of the disease and encouraging others to take any symptoms seriously.
In one of his videos, he shared the symptoms of bowel cancer he’d experienced prior to his diagnosis, reports the Express.
The man had several symptoms he didn’t know were signs of bowel cancer (stock image)(Image: Getty)
“Colon cancer warning signs I had at just 31,” he captioned the video, before sharing five signs of bowel cancer he’d experienced before his diagnosis.
Falling asleep unexpectedly
Chris first realised he was constantly nodding off on the settee after getting home from work, a habit he hadn’t previously had.
Bowel Cancer UK highlights that one of the potential symptoms of bowel cancer is an unexplained persistent feeling of exhaustion.
This can often be due to iron-deficiency anaemia resulting from blood loss in the bowel, which reduces the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. However, fatigue and tiredness are not exclusive symptoms of bowel cancer and could have several other causes.
Night sweats
Chris also experienced night sweats, episodes of excessive sweating during sleep that left him drenched.
Night sweats can be a symptom of bowel cancer, especially in its advanced stages, often appearing alongside other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, chronic fatigue, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel habits, according to the NHS.
While night sweats alone do not definitively indicate cancer, persistent and soaking night sweats combined with other warning signs should prompt a visit to the doctor for evaluation.
Content cannot be displayed without consentUnsatisfactory toilet visits
Next, Chris mentioned that he often didn’t feel empty after using the loo, which could also be a sign of bowel cancer.
Bowel Cancer UK has advised that any alteration in your bowel movements could warrant a visit to the doctor. This could include changes in frequency, experiencing diarrhoea or constipation intermittently.
Another symptom to be aware of is persistent abdominal pain or a lump that doesn’t disappear, which could indicate colon cancer.
Sudden urged to use the toilet
Chris also noticed a sudden urge to use the loo, a symptom that may not seem serious but is considered by the NHS as another potential sign of colon cancer, particularly if accompanied by other symptoms.
This constant or sudden need for a bowel movement, or feeling like you haven’t fully emptied your bowels, can often be attributed to a tumour in the rectum or colon.
Bloody stool
Lastly, Chris emphasised the importance of taking bloody stools seriously, as this was another symptom he experienced with colon cancer. The blood may appear bright red or as dark, tarry streaks.
Bright red blood in the stool usually suggests bleeding in the rectum or colon. While it’s not exclusively a sign of colon cancer, it’s certainly something you should discuss with your doctor.
It’s crucial to note that having any of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have bowel cancer, as there could be numerous other explanations. Nevertheless, the NHS strongly advises getting in touch with your GP if you notice any of these signs.
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