A 24-year-old woman battling a late-stage cancer diagnosis is sharing her story to warn others of a very unusual symptom she ignored for months. Burping.
Bailey McBreen, a nurse from Florida, admits she couldn’t stop burping, up to 10 times a day, for months before going to get it checked. While the excessive burping was the first cancer symptom, it was followed by acid reflux and stomach cramps, which is what led her to the doctor.
‘Not normal for me’
Bailey started to notice she was burping a lot more than is normal for her in 2021.
“The first sign something was wrong – although I didn’t know it at the time – was when I began excessively burping. I would burp 5-10 times a day. This was not normal for me.” Bailey shared.
For months, Bailey’s only symptom was burping but, in February 2022, she started to experience acid reflux.
At first, doctors suggested it was due to anxiety. It wasn’t until January 2023 that Bailey was properly diagnosed after experiencing excruciating pain and being unable to go to the toilet. She also experienced a loss of appetite.
‘Never in a million years…’
As a nurse, Bailey had a feeling that there may have been some sort of obstruction in her body but had no idea it was a tumour. The 24-year-old underwent a CT scan where it was confirmed she was suffering from stage 3 colon cancer.
“Never in a million years did I think that any vague symptom I had was actually stage three colon cancer.
It truly was an out of body experience. I felt like I was sitting in the corner of the room watching myself be diagnosed. Time felt like it slowed down and my heart rate sped up. I was in a complete state of shock.”
Bailey’s diagnosis came as a huge shock to her as well as her family. The 24-year-old exercised multiple times a week and “was the healthiest I’ve ever been” prior to her diagnosis.
I remember the first thing I could say was “I am not ready to die.” All I could do in that moment was cry and mourn the life that I used to have and mentally prepare for what is to come.'”
From burping to cancer diagnosis
Excessive burping is not your textbook sign of colon cancer, but it was most likely the start of symptoms for Bailey.
“GERD was a symptom in my case because my tumour was slowly causing a complete bowel obstruction.
As a result, my food was not completely digesting and was getting ‘trapped’ above my tumor, causing my reflux and burping.”
Bailey is now undergoing treatment to beat colon cancer which she completes in August. In between chemo treatments, she is sharing her story to remind others to always listen to their bodies.
“Anything that is new to you, even if it’s otherwise considered a normal thing, needs to be addressed. I didn’t think anything of my burping because it was a ‘normal’ thing. It’s important to listen to your body,” she said.
“My diagnosis has impacted my life in every possible way you could imagine. I don’t know if I will ever fully process the fact that I am diagnosed with such an aggressive and late-stage cancer. But I refuse to let it define me. I am doing everything I can humanly do to fight this disease.”
Bailey is planning on getting married in December and, thanks to the generosity of friends, family, and strangers, has raised enough funds to freeze 24 eggs in hopes of having children later. You can follow her journey through GoFundMe.
Colon cancer in Australia
Colon cancer is a type of bowel cancer. Bowel cancer includes all cancers that develop from the inner lining of the bowel. It is considered the 4th most common cancer in Australia but it is most common in those over 50 with the average age of diagnosis 69. To be diagnosed in your early 20s is incredibly rare.
It is estimated that more than 15,700 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2022.
Adelaide mum-of-four Sarah Stewart was diagnosed with bowel cancer at just 33 years of age in 2016. She also shared her story with Mum Central, explaining how it’s so important to listen to your body.
People think bowel cancer is an old person’s cancer and it’s not. You can see how many young people are affected by it.” Sarah shared.
Mastechef’s Jock Zonfrillo, 46, who tragically passed away earlier this week, was also reportedly diagnosed with recurrent bowel cancer before his death.
Bowel cancer screening is available to those over the age of 50. For more information, visit Bowel Cancer Australia.
