Doctors Tell Mom, 35, Her Fatigue is Postpartum Depression. It Was Stage 4 Bowel Cancer: Spotting the Signs of the Disease

 

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Symptoms for bowel or colorectal cancer may include a change in bowel habits which can involve constipation or diarrhea. Your stool may also be a different color than normal such as black or tarry colored. Other symptoms of this kind of cancer may include cramps, gas, and tiredness.

When Moles' brought her concerns to her doctor, her symptoms were reportedly dismissed. She was told she had fatigue and was misdiagnosed with post-partum depression and low iron.

Postpartum depression is a severe, long-lasting mood disorder that can develop after a person gives birth, according to Mayo Clinic. Symptoms can include mood swings, loss of appetite, inability to sleep and “overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy,” among other symptoms.

Having low iron means your blood does not have enough of the mineral iron. It can cause symptoms that notably include faituge, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Fortunately, Moles' persistence for clear answers led to further testing.

Tests revealed she had stage 4 bowel cancer. In stage 4, the cancer has spread to other organs such as the liver, lungs, or the peritoneal cavity which is the space in your abdomen that holds your intestines, stomach, and liver.

Moles' cancer had indeed spread to her liver by the time doctors caught it.

Bowel cancer is also commonly called colorectal cancer in the U.S. This kind of cancer develops in your large intestine or bowel (colon) or the end of your intestine (rectum). It starts when abnormal lumps called polyps turn cancerous.

Tiredness can be a symptom of colorectal cancer, along with weakness, cramps and gas.

After being diagnosed, Moles began treatment. According to a GoFundMe set up for her, she had participated in two clinical trials and undergone six surgeries and several rounds of chemotherapy.

"She made great progress last year thanks to nearly 3 months of integrative therapy," Moles' husband Graham Moles said.

The mother of two found temporary success after her initial treatments. She went into remission in late 2021, the news outlet reported. However, a few weeks later, her cancer had returned, spreading even further throughout her body, including her brain.

Moles' has since focused her efforts on finding a cure. Her GoFundMe is helping her family raise money for additional therapy options.

"She's a fighter and I can't imagine anything other than growing old with her," Graham Moles said.

Understanding Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer happens when polyps are not removed and become cancerous. It can take up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become cancerous, according to SurvivorNet experts.

Fortunately, most colorectal cancers can be prevented if you are regularly screened. SurvivorNet experts recommends a colonoscopy for colon screening.

A colonoscopy involves using a long thin tube attached to a camera to examine the colon and rectum. If polyps are discovered, they can be removed during the procedure. If no polyps are found, your next screening will not be needed for about 10 years.

The American Gastrointestinal Association, the American Cancer Society, and the CDC recommend colon cancer screening begin at age 45. However, you should talk with your doctor to learn the best time to screen for you.

WATCH: Colon cancer screening.

Colorectal cancer is staged depending on how advanced the cancer is and if it has spread to other parts of the body.

• Stage 1 cancers are those in which the tumor has only penetrated the superficial layers of the colon and hasn't gotten into the deeper layers
• Stage 2 cancers involve the deeper layers of the colon wall
• Stage 3 cancers have spread to the lymph nodes around the colon
• Stage 4 cancers have spread to other organs, such as the liver, lungs, or peritoneal cavity (the space in your abdomen that holds your intestines, stomach, and liver)

WATCH: What is a colonoscopy and how does it work?

It's unclear the type of surgery Moles received to help treat her cancer. But when it comes to colorectal cancer surgery, we do kow that it may include removing the part of the colon where there is cancer. In these instances, a small portion of healthy tissue around the affected tissue is also removed.

Chemotherapy in colorectal cancer treatment involves using drugs designed to stop the cancer cells from dividing. According to SurvivorNet experts, chemotherapy has been very well studied and is known to improve survival for colorectal cancer patients.

How to Push for a Correct Diagnosis

Luckily for Moles, she had the confidence to staunchly push for solid answers for her symptoms. SurvivorNet always encourages cancer warriors and their caregivers to advocate for a correct diagnosis. If you get the sense something is wrong, it is important to speak up.

Some physicians may initially attribute your symptoms to other health conditions that may be benign (noncancerous). By advocating for yourself, you can make sure your doctor, or those you seek a second opinion from, to consider all possible causes of your symptoms.

WATCH: Advocating for your health.

SurvivorNet previously spoke with cancer warriors and physicians who shared with us some tips on how to advocate for your health.

Breast cancer survivor Jenny Saldana urges you to continue speaking up for yourself even if your concerns are not heard the first time.

Colon cancer survivor Evelyn Reyes-Beato recommends coming to your doctor's appointments prepared with questions.

Dr. Zuri Murrell encourages patients to always leave their appointments with a clear plan of action.

Breast cancer survivor Stephanie Virgin supports getting multiple opinions, especially after a diagnosis.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.