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I want what happened to me to never happen to somebody else: Kerrie Kennedy’ journay with bowel cancer

Irish Cancer Society/LinkedIn

Apr 19, 2025, 13:24

I want what happened to me to never happen to somebody else: Kerrie Kennedy’ journay with bowel cancer

Irish Cancer Society shared a post on Linkedin:

” ‘I want what happened to me to never happen to somebody else. My age went against me. Now, here I am in my early 40s with incurable bowel cancer.”

In late 2020, Kerrie Kennedy from Dublin, began experiencing pain in her abdomen and her bowel habits changed.

‘I was in and out of hospital for months, and they thought I had appendicitis. Eventually, I was told they needed to remove my appendix. They actually opened me up for surgery, but when I woke up, I was told my appendix was knotted and they couldn’t do it. They put me back on antibiotics.’

Kerrie found out she was pregnant in August 2021.

‘We were trying for a baby and I was delighted when I found out we were pregnant. I got a severe pain in my stomach, and we went to the Rotunda. When they done an early pregnancy scan, I don’t know what they spotted but they spotted something. I was sent straight from the Rotunda back to James’s. To this day, I think that baby we lost was sent to save me. We unfortunately lost the baby, but it was through that visit to the Rotunda that my bowel cancer journey began.’

For her treatment, Kerrie first underwent surgery and chemotherapy. After two rounds of chemotherapy, Kerrie was told her cancer had unfortunately spread to her liver and a lymph node outside the liver.

‘Hearing the news that my cancer is incurable was very hard. I didn’t really want to participate but my family wanted to talk to my medical team about my life expectancy. I can’t really describe it. It’s really hard to be in a room to hear people talk about you like you’re not there and life after you.’

Since January 2023, on compassionate grounds, Kerrie has been undergoing immunotherapy.

‘In my latest scans from December 2024, I’m told the cancer is stable and has stopped growing.’

Kerrie is calling on people to be aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.

‘I had abdominal pain, I had diarrhea. Two of the most common symptoms of bowel cancer but I was never referred for a colonoscopy. There are lots of possible explanations for those symptoms, but if you experience them persistently for a few weeks, push for a referral for your own peace of mind.’

You can read Kerrie’s story.

Through a five-year partnership, the Irish Cancer Society has funded the establishment of the Young Onset Programme at the Trinity St. James Cancer Institute.

In recognition of the unique challenges cancer can present to those diagnosed under 50 years old, like Kerrie, the programme supports the holistic needs of these patients focusing on social work, sexual health, and fertility supports, with a team of healthcare professionals employed to work directly with patients to support them and their families across these areas.”

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