Woman diagnosed with cancer aged 44 shares the four symptoms that made her realize something was wrong

A mom-of-six has revealed the four symptoms became apparent to her on the lead-up to her cancer diagnosis.

Elaine Griffin, of New Jersey, was 44 years old when she was diagnosed with Stage 2b colon cancer in the spring of last year, and now hopes to raise awareness of the deadly disease.

We’ll get straight into the symptoms Griffin experienced – and thankfully for her family and herself, she was given the all clear in September.

Severe intestine pain

It all began in the fall of 2023 – she told the New York Post she began noticing she had developed some intolerances to food, or so she thought.

She put intense bowel movements to a gluten allergy, and even started a journal to keep track of what she was eating and how it made her feel.

The 44 years old was diagnosed with Stage 2b colon cancer in April 2024 (Getty stock)

“It was one of those things where I knew something was going on, but I didn’t see it was anything more than, ‘OK, maybe I’m just getting older’,” Griffin told the Post.

Then after a few breakfasts where she experienced what ‘felt like glass going through my intestines’ she seriously restricted her diet – cutting out dairy as well as bread, grains and pasta.

Blood in stool

Griffin explained: “I experienced intense and sudden abdominal pain pretty frequently. My abdomen was bloated.

“It was very hard to sit, stand and use the bathroom. I started noticing blood with each bowel movement.”

She described her feces as being narrow, as well as not giving her much relief following a visit to the toilet.