Woman, 39, Has ‘Empathy’ Toward Kate Middleton After Symptoms Were Dismissed As Acid Reflux, But Surgery Revealed Bowel Cancer—The Importance of Colon Cancer Screenings

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Kennedy, from Hackney, London, admits she “knew something wasn’t right” before undergoing abdominal surgery, but never expected that her emergency colonoscopy would result in doctors finding a tumor in her colon. But the tumor, which was first suspected to be pre-cancerous” was actually cancerous.

“As a young healthy woman, you never think it will happen to you. I never thought it would. But it can happen to anyone,” Kennedy told SNWS in a recent interview, according to the Mirror.

“I have a lot of empathy for what Kate is going through, it’s a tough time – never mind when you’re in the public eye.”

Kennedy started experiencing nausea and a change in her bowel habits in December 2023, symptoms which her doctor initially attributed to acid reflux. But she learned she had a tumor in her colon and underwent surgery to get the mass removed two months later.

However, a biopsy revealed the mass was in fact cancerous and she had stage one bowel cancer.

Luckily, she didn’t need chemotherapy following the discovery and has been in remission since.

“I knew something wasn’t right, but you don’t go into it expecting them to find something like that – it was a huge shock for me,” Kennedy told SWNS.

She explained, “It all happened so quickly from December to March. It’s taken over my life but it’s been such a short period of time. It’s very surreal to say I had cancer.”

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Kennedy, who is now looking for therapy to help her through the trauma she endured during her cancer journey, continued, “It has been the most difficult thing I’ve had to go through.

“When I heard about [Kate’s] abdominal surgery, my thoughts went out to her.”

Looking back on how her cancer journey is similar to Middleton’s, Kennedy said, “At the time, they weren’t saying mine was cancer, just like they said hers wasn’t at first.”

Kennedy also said, according to the Daily Mail, “Hearing of Catherine’s story, my emotions were up and down, it brings up the ‘what if’ feelings. ‘What if I had left it or hadn’t caught it, or had to have chemo like she did?'”

“I have a lot of empathy for her and what she’s going through … It has been the most difficult thing I’ve had to go through. You need to be aware of the symptoms, because it can happen to anyone … even royalty. The sooner you catch it, the better,” she added.

Her cancer journey comes amid Middleton’s cancer diagnosis, which she revealed last week on social media, saying, “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful.

“However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”

After pointing out how grateful she is for the support of her loved ones and the public, she concluded, “As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both. We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.

“At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”

What is Bowel Cancer?

Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel, but generally we use the term colorectal cancer or colon cancer or rectal cancer depending on the location the United States.

RELATED: TODAY’s Craig Melvin Urges Colon Cancer Screenings as He Sits Down with Teacher Who Canceled Colonoscopy 3 Times Then Found Tumors

Bowel cancer, like all cancers, presents its own unique challenges for patients on the road to recovery. But Dr. Heather Yeo, a surgical oncologist and colorectal surgeon at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, wants to remind people how far the treatment of this disease has come.

“One of the most exciting things about my job is that we’ve made a lot of progress on treatment options,” Dr. Yeo says in a previous interview with SurvivorNet.

“However, patients are still while they’re living longer, they are still living with colon cancer, and so I think it’s really important that we talk about how some of the things in your life affect you.”

Living with Colorectal Cancer

Dr. Yeo also reminds people of the importance of colorectal screenings such as colonoscopies because most colorectal cancers can be prevented early with screening.

“In the United States, on a national level, colorectal cancer has been decreasing for the last 20 years,” Dr. Yeo says. “And much of that is thought to be directly due to screening for colon cancer.”

Screening For Colon Cancer

Most colon cancers can be prevented if people are regularly screened. SurvivorNet experts recommend getting a colonoscopy rather than relying on an at-home test for the most accurate results. The screening usually involves a colonoscopy, in which a long, thin tube attached to a camera is used to examine the colon and rectum. The advantage of colonoscopy is that your doctor can remove any polyps found during the test. If no polyps are discovered, the following screening won’t be needed for about ten years.

RELATED: With The First TV Colonoscopy, Katie Couric Took The Shame Away From Colon Cancer Screening; Remember ‘Early Detection Is Everything’

At-home stool tests are also available to screen for colon cancer. However, our experts warn that they are not as effective as colonoscopies. Even though the at-home colon cancer test Cologuard is 93% effective, that’s still 7% of people who will have their cancers missed.

Colon cancers begin as polyps 95% of the time. A study published in 2014 in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the Cologuard test, for example, missed more than 30% of polyps that will soon become cancer and 57% of polyps that may become cancer. That’s a significant discrepancy. Especially since when polyps are found during a colonoscopy, doctors can essentially stop cancer from growing before it even starts.

“We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early,” Dr. Heather Yeo, who is board-certified in general surgery, colon and rectal surgery and complex general surgical oncology, previously told SurvivorNet. “Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this, but access to care is a real problem,” Yeo added.

Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal cancer surgeon and Director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, previously explained the colonoscopy procedure to SurvivorNet.

“When we see a polyp, we actually physically take the polyp out through the colonoscope,” he explained. “What does that mean? That means we basically put a wire through with a little bit of a flange at the end, and we pull the polyp out. Now, note there is no pain with that. Inside the colon, there are no pain fibers. So, there’s no pain.”

The advantage of a colonoscopy is that your doctor can remove any polyps found during the test. Many colon cancers can be caught on colonoscopy before they develop or when the polyps are small enough to be removed without surgery.

RELATED: Myth Busting: Let’s Talk About Colon Cancer Screening

When to Screen for Colon Cancer?

The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for a colorectal screening from 50 to 45.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends guidelines that state colon cancer screenings should begin at 45 years old. This is in response to the increase we see in colon cancer diagnoses in younger adults. However, many insurance companies still do not cover the cost of screenings for those under 50. In the past, the disease had predominantly been found in adults 50 years or older, but for those predisposed to getting it at a younger age, these new guidelines could help catch it earlier.

The best and most complete way of screening is a colonoscopy every ten years. You should get your first colonoscopy at age 45, but the guidelines differ depending on your risk category.

If you have a close relative who has colon cancer, a rule of thumb is to get screened ten years before their age of diagnosis to make sure any growths or cancers are caught early.

If you have several family members who had colon cancer or family members who got it at a young age (less than 50 years old), it may be necessary to undergo genetic screening. If you have a lot of polyps on your colonoscopy or if you have had colon cancer previously, you will need a colonoscopy every 3 to 5 years.

What Increases Your Risk for Developing Colon Cancer?

For some people, certain risk factors can influence their risk of getting colon cancer. They include the following:

• Are older. About 90% of cases are in people aged 50 or older, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Yet it is possible to get this cancer earlier in life.
• Have inflammatory bowel disease.  Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can, over time, cause cells in your intestines to turn cancerous.
• Have a family history of this cancer. Just under one-third of people who get colon cancer have family members with the disease.
• Have a gene mutation. About 5% of colorectal cancers are caused by an inherited genetic mutation that causes syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).
• Don’t exercise very often. Staying active can lower your risk.
• Eat a diet that’s high in meat. Regularly eating red meats like burgers and steaks, and processed meats such as hot dogs and bacon might put you at higher risk.  Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains instead might lower your risk.
• You are overweight or obese. Having too much weight increases your risk of both getting colon cancer and dying from it.
• Drink a lot of alcohol.  Limiting alcohol to one drink daily for women and two drinks daily for men could help lower your risk.
• Use tobacco. Long-term smokers are more likely to get this cancer than nonsmokers.

Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer might not immediately cause symptoms, but there are signs to look out for.

Colon Cancer Symptoms

Below are possible symptoms of colon cancer:

• A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days
• A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that’s not relieved by having one
• Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
• Blood in the stool, which might make the stool look dark brown or black
• Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
• Weakness and fatigue
• Unintended weight loss

It is important to note, however, that displaying some of these symptoms does not mean you have colorectal cancer. You could also have colon cancer and not display any of these symptoms.

Regardless, it is important to bring up any symptoms to your doctor should they arise.

Leading Experts Urge Us to Be Proactive

“If I had any advice for you following a cancer diagnosis, it would be, first, to seek out multiple opinions as to the best care,” National Cancer Institute Chief of Surgery Steven Rosenberg told SurvivorNet in a previous interview, “because finding a doctor who is up to the latest of information is important.”

As we highlight in several areas of SurvivorNet, highly respected doctors sometimes disagree on the right course of treatment, and advances in genetics and immunotherapy are creating new options.

Also, in some instances the specific course of treatment is not clear-cut. That’s even more reason why understanding the potential approaches to your disease is crucial.

At the National Cancer Institute, there is a patient referral service that will “guide patients to the right group depending on their disease state so that they can gain access to these new experimental treatments,” Rosenberg says.

Cancer Research Legend Urges Patients to Get Multiple Opinions

Furthermore, getting another opinion may also help you avoid doctor biases. For example, some surgeons own radiation treatment centers.

“So there may be a conflict of interest if you present to a surgeon that is recommending radiation because there is some ownership of that type of facility,” Dr. Jim Hu, director of robotic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center, told SurvivorNet.

Other reasons to get a second opinion include:

• To see a doctor who has more experience treating your type of cancer
• You have a rare type of cancer
• There are several ways to treat your cancer
• You feel like your doctor isn’t listening to you, or isn’t giving you good advice
• You have trouble understanding your doctor
• You don’t like the treatment your doctor is recommending, or you’re worried about its possible side effects
• Your insurance company wants you to get another medical opinion
• Your cancer isn’t improving on your current treatment

Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate- Don’t Settle

Just remember, being proactive about your health could be a matter of life or death. Learn as much as you can from as many experts as you can, so that you know that you did your best to take control of your health.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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