Young Woman Missed 13 Times by GPs Before Bowel Cancer

Published: ২৭ October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Milli Tanner, a 23-year-old from Evesham, Worcestershire, has revealed the harrowing ordeal she faced after her persistent health complaints were repeatedly dismissed by medical professionals. Over a span of more than two years, Tanner visited her GP thirteen times, sought help at A&E, and even consulted NHS 111, only to be told that she was “too young” to have bowel cancer. Her experience has shed light on the growing concern over delayed cancer diagnoses among young adults in the UK, prompting calls for urgent reforms in early detection and patient advocacy.

Tanner’s troubles began in June 2021 when she was just 19. She started experiencing severe stomach pain, lower back discomfort, and alarming traces of blood in her stool. At her first appointment with a GP, her symptoms were largely attributed to lifestyle factors. Doctors suggested that her stomach pain could be the result of late-night shifts at a pub, where she worked long hours, or perhaps the effects of alcohol during nights out. When she pointed out the persistent bleeding, the response was dismissive, with explanations ranging from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to piles or menstrual irregularities.

Despite her insistence that her symptoms were serious and not related to menstruation, Tanner’s concerns were repeatedly minimised. She remembers being questioned whether she was imagining the severity of her pain or exaggerating the bleeding. On several occasions, she even presented visual evidence, showing the extent of blood in the toilet bowl, but still felt unheard. “It’s not a little bit of blood on the tissue,” she said. “These were clots filling the toilet bowl. I kept telling them something was wrong.”

Frustrated, Tanner visited A&E multiple times, only to be sent back to her GP. On one occasion, a doctor told her bluntly, “You’re too young. Are you happy?” Such statements left her feeling ignored and powerless. It was not until she decided to take her health into her own hands that the truth began to emerge. Tanner ordered a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) online, which is designed to detect tiny traces of blood in stool—a potential early indicator of bowel cancer. The test came back positive, confirming her worst fears.

When Tanner presented her results to her GP, the official NHS testing process was still slow. She was referred for a colonoscopy, but a phone call later revealed that the wait time would be a staggering 60 weeks. Because she was under a certain age, the referral could not be processed urgently without an NHS-administered FIT test confirming the result. This bureaucratic delay added another layer of anxiety and uncertainty for Tanner, who had already endured two years of repeated dismissals.

In November 2023, Tanner underwent her colonoscopy, where she was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer. By this time, the disease had spread to her lymph nodes, necessitating immediate treatment. Tanner underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, and her eggs were collected in preparation for potential infertility caused by cancer treatment. She has since been fitted with a permanent stoma, and while she now faces perimenopause, her latest scans and colonoscopies show no signs of active cancer.

Tanner’s story has resonated widely, highlighting the systemic challenges that young people often face when presenting with serious health concerns. According to experts from the Teenage Cancer Trust, Tanner’s experience, though extreme, is not isolated. Many young patients encounter significant delays in diagnosis, often being told that their age makes serious conditions unlikely. These delays can be traumatic, prolonging suffering and complicating treatment outcomes.

Healthcare professionals point out that bowel cancer has traditionally been considered a disease affecting older adults, but recent trends show an increase in cases among younger populations. This shift underscores the importance of vigilance and responsiveness in primary care, as early detection dramatically improves treatment outcomes. Tanner’s persistence in advocating for her own health was crucial to saving her life.

Beyond the clinical challenges, Tanner’s ordeal has taken a personal toll. She describes the emotional strain of feeling dismissed repeatedly and the fear that her health concerns were being trivialized. Yet, despite these hardships, she has emerged as an advocate for greater awareness of bowel cancer in young people. Tanner now encourages others not to ignore persistent symptoms and to seek multiple opinions if necessary. Her message is clear: early intervention can save lives, and patients must be heard.

The broader implications of Tanner’s experience have drawn attention from both medical professionals and policymakers. Calls for improved education among GPs about the signs of serious conditions in younger adults, streamlined testing procedures, and patient advocacy measures are growing louder. Experts stress that age should not be a barrier to investigating symptoms that may indicate serious diseases such as bowel cancer.

Milli Tanner’s courage in speaking publicly about her journey has also inspired many young people who may be struggling silently. By sharing her story, she hopes to prevent others from enduring the same delays and uncertainty. “I felt like I was going crazy,” she recalls, reflecting on the prolonged dismissal of her symptoms. “I knew deep down it was going to be bowel cancer. I just had to find a way to prove it.”

Her experience also highlights the importance of patient-led initiatives in healthcare. By taking proactive steps—ordering her own test and persisting with her GP—Tanner was able to circumvent the system’s delays. While her outcome is now positive, her journey serves as a stark reminder of the gaps in awareness, responsiveness, and timely intervention in the healthcare system.

As Tanner continues her recovery, she remains committed to raising awareness about bowel cancer and advocating for young patients. Her story underscores the critical need for medical professionals to listen, investigate thoroughly, and consider serious diagnoses even in younger individuals. For the medical community, her experience serves as a call to action to improve diagnostic processes and ensure that no patient feels ignored, regardless of age.