Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of the disease in the UK, and diagnosing it early can make it easier to treat. Referring to cancer found anywhere in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum, it can vary in severity depending on how big the tumour or tumours are, if they have spread, and your general health.Bowel cancer screening can pick up signs of the cancer early, which may mean it’s easier to treat. One woman on social media who was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 24 has shared the three symptoms that made her realise she needed to see a doctor, which ultimately led to her diagnosis.

Paige Seifert shared a video on TikTok in which she said she was told she had stage three colon cancer, which is covered by the broader bowel cancer term, at the beginning of 2025, when she was just 24 years old. Stage three means the cancer it has spread into tissue or nearby lymph nodes, but hasn’t reached other organs. It is the second most-serious stage, after stage four.Paige added she experienced three key symptoms that made her want to get checked out by a doctor, but emphasised that anyone experiencing the same signs may not necessarily have cancer – but it is always best to see an expert.She said: “I want to preface this by saying that just because you have all three of these symptoms does not mean you have colon cancer. In fact, statistically speaking, you probably don’t. These symptoms are linked to things like IBS, coeliac, and a number of other things. So don’t freak out, I’m just explaining my personal story.”