Bowl cancer patient urges others to trust instincts

A young Westmeath woman diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer earlier this year is urging others and in particular women to trust their instincts, if they feel something is wrong.

44-year-old Jane Swarbrigg from Mullingar is currently undergoing treatment for bowel cancer, which has spread to her liver and lungs.

Last week the mother of two travelled to New York, where she underwent surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, one of the world's leading cancer care centres.

The mother of two said she knows she has a long journey ahead, but she said she feels very positive because of the "phenomenal" support around her.

"I feel like I have some extraordinary force field around me at the moment, that is giving me so much strength," she said.

It is five months since Jane Swarbrigg received devastating news, after tests showed blood in her stool and she was sent for a colonoscopy.

"Cancer was never on my radar," she said.

"I had very few symptoms. I was anaemic, but I have been anaemic on my two pregnancies, but my low iron levels persisted and I was very tired.

"I went to the doctor again and again, looking for iron infusions and eventually, I had a stool sample done and in that they found microscopic particles of blood.

"I was brought in straight away for a colonoscopy, and that was when they found the initial tumour."

Ms Swarbrigg explains that after receiving news of the tumour, herself and her husband Brian were dealt another blow.

"Five days later we were brought back and told that it had spread, and it was actually stage four bowel cancer that had spread to my liver and lungs.

"We were not expecting that," she said.

Ms Swarbrigg began treatment at St James Hospital in Dublin during the summer, where she has had eight rounds of chemotherapy.

"By some miracle I ended up in the hands of an oncologist there who worked and trained in MSK (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre) in New York"

"She's liaised with a partner over there, and I was deemed a suitable candidate for the HAI pump."

Last week, Ms Swarbrigg had a specialised Hepatic Arterial Infusion (HAI pump) surgically inserted into her body which will deliver chemotherapy directly to her liver.

The surgery was carried out at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York.

The specialised device delivers chemotherapy at concentrations up to 1,000 times higher than the standard systemic chemotherapy and is not available in Ireland.

"They have been doing this targeted liver treatment over there for years now"

"I'm going to continue my chemotherapy in New York every month while liaising back and forth with my team in Dublin as well," she said.

Ms Swarbrigg who brought the Inglot makeup brand to Ireland, now wants to use her social media profile to raise awareness around her cancer and the symptoms.

"In the past I've done quite a lot with social media and press, as I had the business Inglot that was quite well known.

"But never did I think that I would be sharing a journey like this online.

"At the same time, I have a platform there and I just thought it was time to share, and that's what I've done," she said.

'Thankfully I pushed'

Ms Swarbrigg said she has been inundated with messages of support since going public with her diagnosis.

She has also received numerous messages from other women concerned about symptoms they too have been experiencing.

"I think as mothers we nearly expect to be tired all the time; we expect to have low iron levels at times, if you're prone to it."

"But please don't take those chances and those risks," she warned.

"Thankfully I pushed, and eventually I got some answers, but I would say to anybody, persist and persevere.

"Recently I sat around with a group of my friends, there's six of us that regularly go for dinner and things, all under the age of 50 and three of us have had cancer.

"I think at this stage now, if some good can come from this, it will be raising awareness and urging people to get checked out," she said.

As Ms Swarbrigg recovers in New York, she said she is overwhelmed by the love and support she's receiving from family, friends and the community of Mullingar.

While the emotional, physical and financial strain is immense, she said, people have rallied around her.

She said: "We have two children at home, and my husband works for himself, but thankfully, I moved back to my hometown in Mullingar in recent years, so my parents are close.

"I'm surrounded by friends and family, and endless support, and babysitters who have really looked after us"

"We knew there was obviously going to be a financial strain but honestly, when we started to really delve into it, it's astronomical.

"My friends have been amazing, and they've rallied round and are fundraising which again is a very emotional.

"The support and the outpouring of love, care and donations is completely overwhelming to be honest.

"It’s amazing to see there is so much good in the world and in our community and as overwhelming as it is, I get so much strength from it as well".

"Being positive is half the battle, and that has been said to me by many people, doctors included.

"I can already see myself next April, looking back on a year since this diagnosis, full of life, having overcome this big chapter in our lives."

Sharp rise in bowl cancer in people under 50

The sharp rise in bowel cancer in those under the age of 50 is one of the most urgent questions in cancer research.

Colorectal cancer is increasing among young adults in Ireland, as it is in other European countries.

When caught early, bowel cancer is one of the most treatable cancers.

"There's an increase in people in cancers in people in their 40s, their 30s, their 20s, we're seeing it not only in Ireland but internationally" said Dr Alan Smith, a Consultant in Public Health Medicine, National Screening Service.

"The reassuring thing is that the best brains, in terms of science and research, are looking at this."

Around 2,800 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed in Ireland every year and it is the third most common in women.

Dr Smith said symptom awareness is vital, irrespective of your age.

"Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo when you go to the toilet, a change in your bowel habits or sudden weight loss, they're the sort of the warning signs," he said.

Currently in Ireland, bowel cancer screening is available for those aged 57 to 71.

When registered, BowelScreen delivers a free home test kit to people in that age cohort, every two years.

"For younger people, the answer is symptom awareness and if you have any symptoms or concerns, don't think that you're too young," said Dr Smith.

"Go down to your GP and they will look after you."

"And if you're between 57 and 71, and the kit comes through the post, do the test, and we look after you," he added.

More investment needed, says Irish Cancer Society

The Irish Cancer Society said that while a HIQA recommendation recently called for bowel screening to begin at age 50, more investment is needed for that to become a reality.

"We need a lot more investment in colonoscopy and endoscopy capacity in our health system before this lowering of the screening age will be implementable" said Sonya Carr, Cancer Awareness Nurse/Coordinator with the Irish Cancer Society.

As cancer cases in younger people continue to rise, St James Hospital in Dublin now has a programme in place, specifically to support younger patients.

Mrs Swarbrigg has seen the benefits of the Young Onset Cancer Programme at Trinity St James's Cancer Institute.

It provides tailored support for patients with colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, and head and neck cancers who have been diagnosed before the age of 50.

The programme began in January 2025.

"It’s the first of its kind in Ireland and in Europe" explains Nicola Keohane, Programme Manager.

"It was developed in direct response to the rising incidence of cancer among younger adults globally"

"There is also a growing recognition that this population has distinct clinical, psychosocial, and supportive care needs"

Nicola Keohane said a cancer diagnosis at any age is difficult, but when you are diagnosed at a younger age, it can have significant implications.

"They may be looking after younger children, progressing in their careers, trying to buy a house, and a cancer diagnosis on top of this can have a significant impact on the quality of life.

'Financially you might have a mortgage," she said.

Ms Keohane added: "This programme can really support patients through the challenges of how to pay your mortgage when you're out of work or how to even get a mortgage.

"They may have young children, so we support patients in navigating conversations with their children about a cancer diagnosis.

"Other people may have concerns about fertility preservation, they may not have started their family yet, or they may have not finished their family.

"We have an advanced nurse practitioner in sexual health, fertility, and menopause, and we have a senior medical social worker.

"We also supporting younger patients to navigate conversations with their children about a cancer diagnosis.

"Our programme is about looking at the whole person and recognising that their needs extend beyond their cancer diagnosis."