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A Glasgow mum is sharing her story during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month to encourage others not to put off bowel screening after being diagnosed with metastatic bowel cancer despite feeling “very well” and having very few symptoms.
Jane Short, 52, from Anniesland, works as a physiotherapy support worker and says she will always live with the regret of delaying her bowel screening test.
PICTURED: Jane Short
Jane first received her bowel screening kit at 50 but did not complete it at the time. It was only two years later, after experiencing a short period of frequent trips to the toilet and noticing blood, that she decided to complete the FIT test in July 2025.
That decision led to a life-changing diagnosis.
Jane said: “I had about a two-week window where I had an upset stomach, was going to the toilet more frequently and there was blood when I went to the toilet.
“I hadn’t done my bowel screening when I was 50, and when those symptoms started, I finally did the FIT test and sent it away. That started the ball rolling.
“I constantly live with that bit of regret because if I’d done it when I was 50, the chances are the cancer would still have been there, but it probably wouldn’t have become metastatic.”
Following a colonoscopy at the end of July, Jane was told she had a tumour in her bowel. Further scans later revealed six small tumours on her liver.
Despite the diagnosis, Jane says she had felt completely well.
She said: “I had no other symptoms apart from that two-week window. I was working, doing yoga, doing Pilates, and had no concept that I had metastatic bowel cancer at the time.
“You always think it’s never going to happen to you.”
Because of the extent of the cancer, surgery was not initially an option and Jane was referred to The Beatson for treatment. She began chemotherapy in September, attending treatment every second Thursday for sessions lasting up to eight hours, before returning home with a chemotherapy pump for two more days.
Although 12 sessions were originally planned, Jane only needed eight after her tumours responded so well that surgery became possible.
In February this year, Jane underwent major surgery including a right hemicolectomy, liver resection, gallbladder removal and the removal of 13 lymph nodes.
Thankfully, pathology showed no evidence of cancer in her lymph nodes or gallbladder, and she is now recovering well.
During treatment, Jane accessed support from Beatson Cancer Charity, including the wellbeing centre, wig fitting service and volunteers running the tea trolley.
She said: “The volunteers with the tea trolley were an absolute godsend because my treatment days were so long.
“The wellbeing centre was also a huge support. I underestimated how upsetting hair thinning would be. Losing your hair, or having hair that doesn’t feel like yours anymore, is really distressing.
“The wig service was excellent. The support made such a difference.”
As she continues her recovery, Jane is now looking at support around fear of recurrence and says knowing help is available has been reassuring.
She said: “You go through all that treatment because you want rid of cancer, and then you don’t want to spend every day worrying it’s going to come back.
“When I found support for Fear of Recurrence on the Beatson Cancer Charity website, it was really comforting. It made me realise this is something other people struggle with too, and there are tools to help you manage that long-term.”
Now, during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Jane wants others to learn from her experience and complete their screening when invited.
She said: “I can’t even really justify why I didn’t do the test. I go for smear tests and mammograms, but for some reason I put this one off.
“I would say don’t wait for symptoms because they don’t always come. Not everybody gets the tick-box symptoms.
“These screening programmes are there to make things easier and to catch things earlier. Take the two minutes and do the test.
“The thought of not being here for my daughters and missing the milestones still to come in their lives filled me with absolute despair.
“If sharing my story makes even one person complete their screening, then it’s worth it.”
A spokesperson for Beatson Cancer Charity said: “Jane’s story is an important reminder of why bowel screening matters.
“Early detection can make a huge difference, and we would encourage everyone eligible for screening to complete their test when it arrives.
“We are proud to support people like Jane throughout treatment and beyond, whether that is through practical support in hospital, wellbeing services, or emotional support as people adjust to life after treatment.”
