I thought I had a haemorrhoid after giving birth — it was bowel cancer

Bowel cancer is often associated with older people, but the incidence is rising among younger age groups, writes Arlene Harris

Bowel cancer survivor Helen Dunne: "Don’t be afraid to tell your doctor if you think they have missed the biggest clue." Photo: Gareth Chaney

Constipation is common during pregnancy, so Helen Dunne wasn’t too concerned when this was a feature of her first two pregnancies.

However, when she gave birth to her third child early last year, she experienced rectal bleeding. Her midwife suggested that she had a haemorrhoid.