Jenny Garner, a 41-year-old mother of three, experienced the biggest shock of her life when she discovered she had been living with undiagnosed colorectal cancer for over a year. Since colorectal cancer does not present clear symptoms, early diagnosis is challenging, and the only indicator of the disease was detected by chance during a blood donation. In November of last year, the disease had spread to her stomach glands and was classified as untreatable. Recalling the moment that triggered it all, Garner explained, “The blood didn’t fully go through the needle when I went to give blood. It was a sign of low iron levels, even though there was enough blood,” she said. Initially attributing it to her vegetarian lifestyle, Garner visited a family doctor as advised by the health team. The doctor, upon reviewing Jenny’s medical history, noticed that her iron levels had been consistently low since December 2023. A subsequent blood test revealed even lower iron levels, prompting immediate further testing for suspected internal bleeding. Jenny was recommended a fecal immunochemical test to investigate hidden blood traces in her stool, with the healthcare professional saying, “I don’t think you have cancer for a second, you have no symptoms but we need to rule it out.” Surprisingly, results showed the test was positive. She was then promptly referred to the cancer diagnostic service at the local hospital. A colonoscopy performed in November 2024 revealed the presence of a cancerous growth in her colon, which doctors described to her saying, “We have found an angry red thing and it’s bleeding.” This news was devastating for her, as she explained, “I asked what it was, but they said they would speak to me later. I knew instantly that it wasn’t good.” Within half an hour of her colon cancer diagnosis, Jenny had to wait two months for the tumor to be removed due to delays within the NHS. However, the operation was successful but her recovery process was not long-lasting. Feeling abdominal pains within a month, scans showed growing lymph nodes behind her gut. Doctors explained that removing these nodes through surgery was too risky, and as a result, her condition was deemed untreatable. Recalling her reaction, she said, “I don’t really remember how I responded. I was stunned. It was surreal and everything was a bit blurry.” At 41, upon hearing that there wasn’t much time left, Garner’s immediate concern was for her children. Currently undergoing chemotherapy sessions every two weeks, Garner will undergo a rescan within eight to 12 weeks to assess progress of the treatment. The family is also exploring alternative treatment methods not available within the NHS, launching a donation campaign to fund these expenses.