Bereaved Offaly Mum calls for lowering of cancer screening age
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Clara native Geraldine Hogan is urging the public to support a petition on lowering the age for bowel cancer screening in memory of her late daughter, Caroline.
Geraldine, who has lived in the UK since 1985, is a campaigner with Bowel Cancer UK. Her first-born Caroline, the eldest of three daughters, came into the world at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, on August 10, 1984.
"We moved to the UK in 1985, but she loved her holidays in Clara," Geraldine said. Caroline was diagnosed with cancer in June 2023.
Her diagnosis, at the age of 38, came after a series of earlier misdiagnoses.
She passed away just two months later, in August 2023.
Her mother believes that if routine testing had been available from the age of 30, Caroline might still be alive.
As of yesterday (Thursday), a change.org online petition to lower the age for bowel cancer screening to 30 across the UK had amassed over 56,000 signatures, with dozens of messages and stories being left by other people who had lost loved ones to the disease early in life.
"Our beautiful daughter Caroline died from bowel cancer on August 17, 2023, having been diagnosed exactly two months earlier on June 17," Geraldine said.
"Caroline died just one week after her 39th birthday. As a family we are heartbroken, and as parents we are crushed by such a cruel blow. I wanted to do something positive in Caroline’s memory."
Currently, bowel cancer screening in Ireland and the UK is focused on those aged between 50 and 70. The HSE will offer you your first home screening test between your 58th and 60th birthday, with subsequent home tests offered every 2 years.
Around 2,500 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in Ireland every year. It is the second most common of all cancers in men, and the third most common of all cancers in women in Ireland.
Caroline’s cancer was discovered after an MRI scan on her back revealed a fracture in her spine. The radiologist suspected something more serious and requested an oncologist’s opinion after noticing what appeared to be a tumour.
A follow-up CT scan revealed numerous tumours on her spine, with the primary cancer located in her bowel.
On June 17, 2023, following her first CT scan, oncology specialists ordered a full-body scan. By 5pm that same day, Caroline was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer that had already spread to her lungs, liver and spine.
"We were stunned. It was incredibly difficult to take in just how extensive the cancer was," Geraldine said.
Caroline underwent a colonoscopy shortly after, and the palliative bowel care team visited her on the ward. Geraldine asked doctors how long her daughter might have if she received no treatment and was told it could be between six and 18 months.
"The entire diagnosis took about seven hours. The delivery of the news was clumsy and uncertain. There was no clear plan about what would happen next or what options there might be."
Even in the face of such devastating news, Geraldine described her daughter as incredibly brave.
"Caroline showed such courage and strength. It still brings me to tears. She spoke softly and kindly to the doctors and nurses throughout."
Caroline was quickly referred for radiotherapy, but her pain remained difficult to control. She returned home under the care of the palliative care team.
However, as her pain worsened, she moved into a local hospice where it was eventually brought under control.
"Being in the hospice allowed us to focus completely on Caroline. We wanted to do anything she wished, so we concentrated on preparing her home so she could return there."
Caroline died exactly two months after her diagnosis. Geraldine believes her daughter must have been living with the disease for a long time.
In the five years before her death, Caroline had visited her GP several times and had been diagnosed at different times with chronic back pain, a protruding disc, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.
"All of these were red flags for bowel cancer, but Caroline was only 38 and was considered too young for it. There were missed opportunities," her mother said.
Caroline's family are devastated by the loss of their vibrant and loving daughter, and hope to make more people aware that bowel cancer isn't just an older person's disease.
"We are devastated by her loss. Bowel cancer is often seen as an older person’s disease, but it isn’t," Geraldine said.
"If sharing Caroline’s story saves even one life, I will gladly play my part. She is deeply missed and loved."
To find out more, or to support the petition, go to: tinyurl.com/changedotorg13/