A 38-year-old mother of two has shared her bowel cancer journey online after being diagnosed with stage 3 cancer following months of ignoring what she believed was “normal” tiredness.
Laura, who documents her recovery journey on TikTok, said persistent fatigue was the only major symptom she experienced before being diagnosed with bowel cancer in June 2025.
The mother, who has more than 18,000 followers on social media, revealed she initially dismissed the exhaustion as part of the pressures of parenting, work and daily responsibilities.
“I thought being tired all the time was normal,” she said in a viral video. “I’ve got young children, I work constantly, and I thought that was just life.”
However, the fatigue reportedly continued affecting her daily life despite adequate rest. Laura later discovered the symptom was linked to bowel cancer.
She has since undergone four rounds of chemotherapy and is now using her platform to encourage others to listen to warning signs from their bodies.
Laura said she regrets not seeking medical help earlier, believing an earlier diagnosis may have reduced the severity of treatment required.
She urged people experiencing ongoing fatigue, especially when combined with anaemia, to speak with doctors and consider undergoing a FIT test — a faecal immunochemical test used to detect hidden blood in stool samples, which can be an early indicator of bowel cancer.
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is among the most common cancers globally.
Health experts say symptoms can include changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, stomach pain, bloating, unexplained weight loss, anaemia and persistent fatigue.
Medical professionals emphasise that while tiredness is common in modern lifestyles, severe or prolonged exhaustion that interferes with daily life should not be ignored.
The story has sparked widespread discussion online, with many users sharing experiences about overlooked symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis and regular health checks