'I'm lucky to be alive after my heartburn and chest pain led to cancer diagnosis'

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As a "busy" pupil nurse, Rachel astir missed the assignment that yet caught the illness and saved her life.

Rachel Edge

Mum-of-two Rachel Edge believes she is 'lucky to beryllium alive' pursuing a diagnosis of a deadly cancer

A mum-of-two said she is “lucky to beryllium alive” aft immoderate innocuous symptoms led to the diagnosis of a deadly disease. Nurse Rachel Edge was told she could person died “within 18 months” if she did not get the attraction she needed.

In enactment with Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month, the present 40-year-old, from Bolton successful Greater Manchester, elaborate however doctors discovered she had oesophageal crab - a illness which kills much than 8,000 Brits each year. She was diagnosed backmost successful 2022 astatine the property of 38.

At the clip she was not really displaying immoderate signs of the disease. However, Rachel had antecedently been diagnosed with a information known arsenic Barrett’s oesophagus astatine the property of 17.

This is sometimes called a pre-cancerous information arsenic it tin rise your likelihood of processing oesophageal cancer, though this is not ever the case. Her information was picked up owed to a fig of symptoms that mightiness not initially origin overmuch concern, including:

  • Heartburn
  • A atrocious sensation successful her mouth
  • Chest pain.

Although these symptoms were caused by Barrett’s oesophagus they are besides imaginable informing signs of the crab too. As a effect of this diagnosis, she would acquisition a regular endoscopy - a trial to look wrong the assemblage - each 2 years to cheque for cancer. It was during a biopsy pursuing connected from 1 of these appointments that the illness was spotted.

Rachel was initially diagnosed with a information called Barrett’s oesophagus owed to symptoms specified arsenic heartburn and thorax pain (

Image:

Rachel Edge)

Rachel said: “I was highly fortunate that my crab was caught aboriginal truthful I was capable to person treatment. I astir didn’t spell to my assignment successful 2022 due to the fact that I was a pupil caregiver and was engaged and I was feeling wholly fine. Luckily I went due to the fact that the camera picked up abnormalities.

“I had a biopsy which resulted successful the find of a 1.7cm tumour successful my oesophagus. It was a unspeakable shock. What followed was a traumatic nine-hour surgery, involving the removal of 2 thirds of my tummy and 2 ribs, and weeks of chemotherapy to get escaped of the cancer. My spleen ruptured during country but my astonishing surgeons saved my life.”

Her doc told her that without the chemotherapy and country she would person been dormant successful 18 months. Since then, Rachel has been told she is cancer-free though she inactive has to unrecorded with immoderate lingering symptoms.

“I present person 150 staples successful my tummy and 98 successful my back,” she said. “I'm connected high-dose medicine to negociate the symptom and I conflict with fatigue portion trying to enactment arsenic a territory caregiver and beryllium a mum to my 2 young children.

As a "busy" pupil caregiver she astir missed the assignment that yet caught the illness and saved her life (

Image:

Rachel Edge)

“I’m besides inactive suffering from the intelligence interaction of my diagnosis but wide I consciousness fortunate that my crab was caught successful the aboriginal stages and I’m inactive alive.”

Oesophageal crab affects the nutrient tube connecting the pharynx to the stomach. There are astir 9,200 caller cases diagnosed successful the UK each year.

The causes are often unclear, but sometimes tin beryllium related to manner factors specified arsenic smoking, drinking alcohol, oregon being overweight. Fewer than 20 per cent of radical diagnosed with oesophageal crab successful the UK volition past their crab for much than 5 years.

Recent information analysed by Action Against Heartburn has revealed that the UK’s incidence of this often fatal illness surpasses that of astir each European countries, which campaigners accidental underscores the “urgent need” for accrued awareness, research, and enactment for those affected.

The information shows that the UK has 14.2 cases of oesophageal crab per 100,000 radical compared to 3.5 successful Italy, 4.4 successful Spain, 7.0 successful France and 7.7 successful Germany. The highest complaint is the Netherlands which is lone somewhat worse than the UK astatine 14.9 cases per 100,000 people.

According to the NHS, determination are “many possible” symptoms of oesophageal cancer, but they mightiness beryllium “hard to spot”. They tin impact your digestion, specified as:

  • Having problems swallowing (dysphagia)
  • Feeling oregon being sick
  • Heartburn oregon acerb reflux
  • Symptoms of indigestion, specified arsenic burping a lot.

Other symptoms include:

  • A cough that is not getting better
  • A hoarse voice
  • Loss of appetite oregon losing value without trying to
  • Feeling bushed oregon having nary energy
  • Pain successful your pharynx oregon the mediate of your chest, particularly erstwhile swallowing
  • Black poo oregon coughing up humor (although these are uncommon).

These symptoms bash not needfully constituent to crab but you should talk to your GP if they persist for a agelong clip oregon get worse.

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