A 33-year-old father from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, is sharing his story of being diagnosed with bowel cancer at a young age, urging others to take symptoms seriously. James Rogers, a Christmas tree farmer, noticed blood in his stool while on holiday in May 2025. Despite initial reassurance from doctors, a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) revealed a positive result, leading to a colonoscopy. The procedure identified a tumour near infected lymph nodes. James, now 34, had previously visited a doctor for similar symptoms two and a half years earlier, but the FIT test was negative. This experience highlights the importance of persistence in seeking medical advice, as polyps can sometimes be cancerous. James's story is a stark reminder that bowel cancer is not limited to older adults, with a rise in cases among young adults since the 1990s. Genevieve Edwards, CEO of Bowel Cancer UK, emphasizes the treatability and curability of the disease when diagnosed early. She encourages anyone experiencing symptoms like bleeding from the rectum, blood in the stool, or changes in bowel habits to consult their GP for a test.
