In a heartbreaking case that highlights the dangers of misdiagnosis, a 76-year-old UK woman died just three days after being diagnosed with bowel cancer—a condition initially mistaken by doctors as a simple food intolerance.
Maria Paszkiewicz, who was reportedly healthy and rarely fell ill, began experiencing unusual bowel habits and an increased urge to use the toilet in early 2023. When she visited her doctor, the symptoms were attributed to food intolerance, believed to be a reaction to something she had eaten and couldn’t digest properly.
According to her daughter, not a single medical professional suspected anything more serious during her initial consultations. The family assumed it was a digestive issue and had no reason to fear otherwise.
However, Maria’s condition continued to worsen. Eventually, she pushed for further medical testing, including blood work, which revealed the devastating truth—she had bowel cancer, and it had already spread to her liver. Though she was immediately started on chemotherapy, the treatment had limited success. After the initial round of chemo ended, the cancer began growing back rapidly.
Doctors informed Maria and her family that she likely had only three to six months left to live. But before the family could even begin planning how to spend her remaining time, she passed away just three days later.
“After that initial prognosis we spent the next few days calculating how long three months was, the milestones coming up, and what we could do as a family,” her daughter recalled. “But we didn’t get to do any of that. It was a huge shock to the system.”
Bowel cancer remains a serious health concern, with survival rates remaining low. Only about half of diagnosed patients are expected to live a decade or longer. Alarmingly, there has been a 36% increase in cases among individuals under 50 between 2007 and 2017, which researchers believe may be linked to ultra-processed foods, environmental pollution, and plastic exposure.
Medical experts urge the public to be aware of bowel cancer symptoms, which include changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, bloating, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. Early diagnosis can make a critical difference in treatment outcomes.
Maria’s tragic story serves as a stark reminder that persistent symptoms should never be ignored—and that second opinions can sometimes save lives.
Sources By Agencies
