Mum says she's 'lucky to be alive' after heartburn led to cancer discovery
A mum-of-two believes she is "lucky to be alive" after seemingly harmless symptoms led to the diagnosis of a fatal disease. Nurse Rachel Edge, from Bolton, was informed that she could have lost her life "within 18 months" if her illness had not been treated in time.
In recognition of Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month, she shared how doctors discovered she had oesophageal cancer - a disease that claims over 8,000 lives in the UK annually. She received her diagnosis in 2022 at the age of 38, despite showing no apparent signs of the disease at the time.
However, Rachel had been diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus, a condition sometimes referred to as pre-cancerous due to its potential to increase the risk of developing oesophageal cancer, at the age of 17. Her condition was identified through several symptoms that might not initially raise alarm, including heartburn, a bad taste in her mouth, and chest pain.
Following this diagnosis, Rachel, now 40, underwent routine endoscopies every two years to monitor for cancer. It was during a biopsy after one of these check-ups that the killer disease was detected.
She said: "I was extremely lucky that my cancer was caught early so I was able to have treatment. I nearly didn’t go to my appointment in 2022 because I was a student nurse and was busy and I was feeling completely fine. Luckily, I went because the camera picked up abnormalities."
Her subsequent biopsy uncovered a 1.7cm tumour in her oesophagus, leaving her stunned. She recalled: "I had a biopsy which resulted in the discovery of a 1.7cm tumour in my oesophagus. It was a terrible shock."
The ensuing nine-hour surgery was arduous, involving extensive removal and chemotherapy. "What followed was a traumatic nine-hour