A misdiagnosis by doctors led to the shock of a lifetime for one 41-year-old woman. Kara Miller had been told that the stomach pains that she was experiencing was related to gastrointestinal issues that she was experiencing. But her issues were much more severe. It turned out that she had stage three colorectal cancer (via the New York Post).
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Miller's Food Poisoning Diagnosis Turned Out to Be Cancer
Miller decided to see a general practitioner in September 2021 after being influenced by cancer activist Deborah James. She encouraged anybody who was experiencing any rectal bleeding to visit their primary physician.
Miller had an over-the-phone visit with her general practitioner. It was on the phone that she was initially informed that she was experiencing hemorrhoids. And even though the symptoms did not improve, Kara carried on with life as scheduled.
17 months later, in February 2022, Miller contracted the COVID-19 virus. But in the midst of her recovery, she began to feel "really unwell." She once again visited the general practitioner, who informed her that she was dealing with food poisoning. But Kara's instincts made her request a blood test and a FIT test, for which she received a positive result. In March 2022, a colonoscopy revealed that she had a mass in her rectum. In April, she was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer because the disease had spread to her lymph nodes.
Following the diagnosis, Kara had to undergo five weeks of chemoradiotherapy so that doctors could shrink the tumors that were blocking "50 % of her rectum." The tumor was successfully surgically removed.
Kara is now three years cancer-free and shares her story with others. Urging others to self-advocate when it comes to receiving a diagnosis from their general practitioner.
"I always look back on that moment, and it was only a few months before I was diagnosed, but for some people it takes them years to be believed," she said via The New York Post.
"One thing I've noticed and realized is you have to self-advocate. Being aware of cancer symptoms and how they present is really important to be aware of because it could effectively save your life."
