I was told it was perimenopause — but I had incurable bowel cancer

Clodagh Downing was careful to visit her GP about health, but she was reassured she was too young to have a serious illness. Within months she was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer 

Clodagh Downing, who is being treated for bowel cancer. Photograph Moya Nolan

When Clodagh Downing went to see her doctor about the symptoms that had intensified, she was told that there was little to worry about.

“I had the symptoms for years, but they became more acute and I was in and out of my doctor’s with relapsing infections, allergies, abdominal pain, anaemia and irregular bowels,” Clodagh says.