AN OLDBURY grandmother who threw two bowel cancer screening kits in the bin before<br />being diagnosed with an advanced form of the disease has welcomed a £5.5 million<br />investment in research.<br />Karen Stephens says she almost lost her life through ‘pride and embarrassment’ after<br />refusing to visit the doctor with tummy cramps and diarrhoea. She was diagnosed with stage<br />three bowel cancer in November 2023 and put on a type of immunotherapy, normally only<br />used for womb cancer.<br />Now the mum of four, who has 11 grandchildren, has welcomed the announcement of a £5.5<br />million grant from Cancer Research UK and partners to find kinder, better treatments for<br />people living with bowel cancer.
