Overlooked Symptoms: A Woman’s Brave Battle with Stage 4 Cancer

Zoe Gardner-Lawson, a 36-year-old mother of three, was living a healthy and active life until she suddenly experienced a dull discomfort in her lower back in August 2024. What followed was a series of misdiagnoses and overlooked symptoms that would ultimately lead to a devastating diagnosis: stage 4 colon cancer.

Zoe’s journey began when her general practitioner prescribed her antibiotics over the phone, suspecting a urinary tract infection. However, the discomfort persisted, and she was prescribed two additional doses over the course of a month. Despite her deteriorating condition, Zoe was left feeling frustrated and confused.

It wasn’t until she visited her primary care physician again in September that she was advised to go to the emergency room. Even then, medical professionals suspected kidney stones, and it wasn’t until a CT scan and blood tests were conducted that the true extent of Zoe’s condition became clear.

The results revealed a tumor the size of a lime on her colon, which had perforated and spread to her liver, peritoneum, and stomach lymph nodes. Zoe was shocked and heartbroken by the diagnosis, and her prognosis remains uncertain to this day.

Despite the challenges she faces, Zoe is determined to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and screening for colon cancer. She believes that if her illness had been detected earlier, it would have been much easier to treat. Zoe is now advocating for the minimum age for colon cancer screenings to be reduced to at least 30 years old.

Zoe’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of listening to our bodies and advocating for ourselves when it comes to our health. Her bravery and resilience in the face of adversity are an inspiration to us all.

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