A mother in good health was shocked to discover that her bloating and stomach pains were actually signs of a terminal illness. Cecilia Capolupo, 46, visited her doctor upon returning from a holiday in Devon where she had indulged in pasties and fish and chips with her children. Initially suspected to have an infection, a colonoscopy in September 2025 revealed that she had stage-four bowel cancer, with an eight-centimeter tumor spreading to her abdominal wall, liver, and lungs, giving her a prognosis of two years to live.
Originally from Argentina and now residing in Clapham, London, Cecilia shared, “I returned from holiday feeling bloated, experienced stomach cramps, and sought medical attention. The routine colonoscopy turned out to be life-changing.” The diagnosis left her in shock, leading to panic attacks and tearful farewells to loved ones on weekends.
Just a year earlier, Cecilia, her husband Mark, 45, and their two sons, aged six and four, had enjoyed a healthy vacation in Devon. Despite feeling fit and never considering stomach checks before, she noticed a small amount of blood in her stool just five days after the onset of her symptoms. While reassured by her GP that it was likely an infection, a subsequent colonoscopy at Lister Hospital delivered the devastating news of an incurable tumor.
Undergoing chemotherapy every two weeks and additional treatments at home, Cecilia described feeling like an elderly person enduring severe hangovers after four rounds of chemo. Despite the grim two-year prognosis, she remains determined to fight, aiming to surpass the 13 percent five-year survival rate for stage-four cancer.
Bowel cancer, affecting one in 20 women and one in 15 men in the UK, ranks as the third most common type of cancer. While Australia starts bowel screening at age 45, individuals in England, Scotland, and Wales receive testing kits at age 50. Cecilia regretted not acting sooner upon her first symptom, emphasizing the importance of early screenings for better outcomes.
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