A young 25-year-old woman from Florida, Bailey McBreen, recently shared her alarming experience with persistent burping, which unexpectedly turned out to be a symptom of undiagnosed late-stage cancer. Bailey started experiencing frequent burping, up to 10 times a day, in 2021. Initially, she dismissed it as a minor issue, but when the burping escalated to acid reflux and excruciating stomach cramps, she knew something was seriously wrong.
After months of discomfort, Bailey eventually received the diagnosis of stage 3 colon cancer, which came as a massive shock to her and her family. Reflecting on her symptoms, Bailey recalls, “The first sign something was wrong – although I didn’t know it at the time – was when I began excessively burping. I would burp 5-10 times a day. This was not normal for me.” As a nurse, she trusted her instincts and rushed to the hospital when her health deteriorated further, experiencing intense pain, loss of appetite, and difficulty using the bathroom.
A CT scan at the hospital revealed a stage 3 colon cancer and a tumor obstructing her large intestine. Bailey expressed her disbelief, stating, “I never thought it could be linked to such a horrible disease. It truly was an out-of-body experience. I remember the first thing I could say was, ‘I am not ready to die.’ Never in a million years did I think that any vague symptom I had was actually stage 3 colon cancer.
While it may seem unusual, Bailey believes her constant burping was a result of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which developed about a month after the burping started. Her oncologist confirmed that excessive burping was likely the initial manifestation of her symptoms. The obstruction caused by the tumor gradually led to the worsening of her condition.
Following her diagnosis, Bailey underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumor and is currently undergoing chemotherapy until the end of August. She urges others to pay attention to their bodies and seek medical advice if something feels off. Colon cancer, being the third most common cancer globally after lung and breast cancers, highlights the importance of early detection and prompt medical intervention.
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