A woman who was told her gastrointestinal issues were “food poisoning” actually had stage three colorectal cancer.

Kara Miller, 41, first headed to the GP in September 2021 after watching Deborah James – otherwise known as BowelBabe – on morning TV urging anyone with bleeding from their back passage to get checked.

She was told during an over-the-phone appointment with her GP it was hemorrhoids, which she had had previously, and despite symptoms not “going away,” a family bereavement meant she carried on with life at her corporate job.

In February 2022, Kara was recovering from a bout of Covid-19 when she began feeling “really unwell.”

Despite her GP believing it to be food poisoning, Kara pushed for blood tests and a FIT test.

After a positive result, she underwent a colonoscopy in March 2022 where a mass was discovered in her rectum.

After an X-ray and MRI the following day and a CT scan, Kara was diagnosed on April 5, 2022 with stage three colorectal cancer after it had spread to her lymph nodes.

She underwent five weeks of chemoradiotherapy to shrink the six-centimeter-long tumor – which was obstructing 50% of her rectum – but due to her margins for surgery not being as they needed to be, she required 12 weeks of chemotherapy.

Despite margins still not showing as clear after treatment, surgeons went ahead with surgery to remove the tumor, which was successful.

Kara was fitted with a temporary ileostomy and spent Christmas in the hospital before undergoing a further 12 weeks of chemotherapy.

After nine months of her bowel being “switched off,” Kara underwent reversal surgery for her ileostomy in August 2023.

Now three years cancer-free and working as a cancer rehabilitation specialist, she is sharing her story and urging people to “advocate” when it comes to receiving a diagnosis.

Kara, from South London, says: “It was surreal.

“I spoke on the phone with someone at my GP surgery and they told me it was hemorrhoids and it was fine.

“I always look back on that moment and it was only a few months before I was diagnosed but for some people it takes them years to be believed.

“One thing I’ve noticed and realized is you have to self-advocate.

“Being aware of cancer symptoms and how they present is really important to be aware of because it could effectively save your life.

“I had spoken to my GP and a private gastrointestinal doctor as I had medical cover.

“They also told me it was probably food poisoning despite seeing the positive FIT test.

“One of the resounding comments throughout that period was I was too young.

“I was aware it could be cancer but it just seemed so far-fetched to me.”

Kara attended a colonoscopy appointment in March 2022 and was able to witness the moment her tumor appeared on the screen whilst undergoing the procedure.

“The doctor said I’m going to take a biopsy of this,” Kara says.

“I said, ‘Is it cancer?’

“I remember him holding my hand and slightly nodding.

“From that moment I went into total shock – I couldn’t believe it, it was an out-of-body experience.”

Kara awaited further tests to confirm her suspected diagnosis, and doctors told her on April 5, 2022 that she had stage three cancer.

After five weeks of chemoradiotherapy to shrink her six-centimeter tumor, Kara’s margins for surgery “weren’t clear,” and she required 12 weeks of chemotherapy.

“When you have advanced cancer it starts to infiltrate the walls of the bowel and you have a thing called margins and it’s the certain degree of clearance to cut around the tumor and ensure they are not leaving anything behind,” she says.

“The team at the hospital decided to push through with surgery anyway after that 12 weeks of chemotherapy.”

After the six-hour-long surgery, doctors managed to remove all of Kara’s tumor, and she was fitted with a temporary ileostomy bag before undergoing a further 12 weeks of chemotherapy.

She underwent a reversal surgery in August 2023.

“In 2024 I started this new normal,” she says.

“Whilst I was physically fit, I played netball internationally and I was quite strong. I would say the mental aspect after treatment and everything finished was by far harder for me than physical treatment.

“I was a program director at the time of diagnosis.

“I retrained once I’d finished treatment in exercise referral.

“Now I work with a charity helping individuals who have gone through long-term health conditions and cancer.

“It’s the first time in a long while, the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

“My mission is to help individuals rehabilitate themselves post-cancer and help educate organizations to understand the impact of cancer on their employees and population.

“Organizations, especially large ones, have enough resources to provide support and sick leave but few people know the toll it takes during individuals’ treatment where they need the most support, but also after treatment.”

Kara started sharing her story on social media a month ago.

“I’m in awe of people going through treatment now who can document their story, I didn’t have the capacity in me to do that at the time,” she says.

“I feel a great degree of responsibility and get nervous when posting stuff.

“I get people asking questions and direct messaging me.

“I can feel the anxiety in their voices and concern.

“I’m always wary of giving people medical advice as I’m not a medical professional but I always want to relay my perspective to help in some way.

“I always caveat this is my experience and what I’ve done but speak to your own medical team.

“Sharing your story is vulnerable, especially on social media.”

You can follow Kara on TikTok @rehabbykara.