Doctors blamed my pregnancy for unusual symptoms but my gut feeling was right

A NEW MOTHER has been diagnosed with deadly cancer after doctors repeatedly misdiagnosed her symptoms.

Jennaca Russ, 37, first started having blood in her stool during her second trimester of pregnancy — what she knew as a nurse was a red flag.

2

2

Doctors assured the mother-of-one that her symptoms were caused by her pregnancy.

But Jennaca, from Oklahoma, USA, said she had a “gut feeling it was something more than that.”

“I contacted my doctors throughout my pregnancy and they said wait until the baby was born,” she explained.

She displayed her symptoms to doctors throughout her pregnancy, but experts insisted the bleeding was internal hemorrhoids and said to wait for further tests.

“I kept worrying about the bleeding and went to see a doctor and was taken for a colonoscopy,” she said.

Jennaca’s son, August Russ, was born on October 4, 2022, and her symptoms stopped soon after.

But her mother urged her to keep her colonoscopy appointment, and on November 21, 2022, Jennaca went to see a digestive disease specialist.

After the appointment, Jennaca received the devastating news that she had colon cancer that had spread to her liver and she only had a year to live.

According to the American Cancer Society, 106,970 new cases of colon cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year.

And in the UK, more than 41,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year and that number is growing, according to the NHS.

“It’s been a pretty dark day for us, I got the news two or three days before Thanksgiving,” the mother said.

A few weeks later, Jennaca had an appointment with an oncologist who changed the prognosis.

“He said I have years but it’s going to be a long fight as the survival rate is poor — I have a 10 percent chance of living five years,” she said.

To defy the odds, Jennaca made an appointment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, USA

“The doctors there said my cancer was surgical and they believe they can remove my liver tumors.

“I have my colon cancer surgery at the end of February, they said the cure rate is about 40 percent, which is light years above what I was previously told.

“Doctors are still deciding when I’m going to have my liver surgery,” she added.

Jennaca said the past few months have been “very emotional” and “very tough” for her and her husband, Cody Russ.

Since the diagnosis, Jennaca has had four rounds of chemotherapy to shrink the tumors before surgery.

“I’m focused on enjoying everyday life, no matter how it turns out, my son will never be a baby again as long as I’m here with him,” the mother explained.

After Jennaca lost her job as a nurse due to her illness, her friends started a GoFundMe to help with living and medical expenses.

So far, the site has raised $29,598 (£24,558) of the $50,000 (£41,502) goal.

“I want people to be aware that as they stand up for themselves, colon cancer is increasing dramatically in younger people,” she said.

A new study has shown that cases of colorectal cancer (colon) in young people have doubled over the past three decades.

NHS screening tests, which detect the disease early, are limited to older people.

That’s why The Sun launched the “No Time 2 Lose” campaign in April 2018 to urge the government to lower the screening age from 60 to 50, which could save 4,500 lives annually.

In the summer of 2018, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that screening in England would be reduced to 50 – a victory for The Sun and campaigners.

What are the first symptoms of colon cancer?

It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of colon cancer, recognize any changes, and see your doctor.

If you notice any of the signs, have no shame and be sure to talk to your GP.

The five warning signs of colon cancer are:

1. Bleeding from the posterior passage or blood in your stool
2. A change in your normal toilet habits – for example, walking more often
3. Pain or a lump in your abdomen
4. Extreme tiredness
5. lose weight

Tumors in the gut typically bleed, which can lead to a shortage of red blood cells, known as anemia. It can cause fatigue and sometimes shortness of breath.

In some cases, colon cancer can block the bowel, this is called a bowel obstruction.

Other signs of colon cancer are:

• Gripping pains in abdomen
• bloating
• Constipation and inability to breathe
• Be sick
• The feeling that you have to exert yourself – like number two – but after you’ve been to the toilet