A fit and healthy dad, whose stage three colon cancer was misdiagnosed as an ulcer, has warned others not to ignore a key symptom.
Rory Kennedy had always led a healthy lifestyle and had no family history of the disease.
The 36-year-old didn’t drink or smoke, ate healthy food and exercised regularly.
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But everything changed when he noticed blood while going to the toilet.
“My reaction was, ‘I need to get checked’ so I went to an urgent care within the week,” the dad-of-one told Need To Know.
There, the dad was told it was likely an ulcer or bacterial issue.
He added: “At the time, I did not think anything of it and trusted the doctor.”
However, a few years later, Rory noticed a single bloody stool again.
This time, he was also experiencing stomach pains.
He said: “I felt very healthy at the time and was going about my life.
“But, I figured I had to get it checked out to be certain.”
This time, a gastroenterologist told him he should have been referred for a colonoscopy during his first appointment.
Rory, from Miami, US, says he “wishes the previous doctor had referred him” years prior.
Tragically, in September 2024, a colonoscopy and endoscopy revealed a mass on the dad’s colon.
In surgery a month later, doctors removed 10 inches of his colon, part of his small intestine, his appendix and 45 lymph nodes.
Sadly, eight of those tested positive as cancerous – making his cancer stage three, just one step below terminal.
Rory said: “It was awful.
“It flipped my world upside down.
“There was a lot of uncertainty.
“My mind went to a lot of dark places thinking about all the what-if scenarios and potentially dying at a young age, leaving my wife, Karen, and son, Kai, behind.”
Colon cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the large intestine, also called the colon.
It usually begins as small growths called polyps, which can turn into cancer over time.
It can cause symptoms like blood in the stool, stomach pain or changes in how often you go to the toilet. If found early, it’s often treatable.
The dad went on to start chemotherapy shortly after his diagnosis – but says the side effects were brutal.
He suffered nausea, illness, sleeplessness and a painful condition known as chemo mouth.
But the emotional toll hit even harder – with his son turning one, the same day he had surgery.
Rory said: “It was terrible.
“It was on my mind constantly.
“It almost felt like a bad dream that was reality.
“It was hard to sleep, hard to work, hard to find joy every day.”
Now finishing chemotherapy, Rory is awaiting scan results.
If they come back clear, he’ll be in remission.
However, doctors say there’s still a 40 -50% chance the cancer could return.
Rory said: “It will always be in the back of my mind.
“It is something I will have to live with my entire life.
“I just pray and lean on my faith that it is out of my hands, and try to live a normal life.
“It has changed my outlook on life in the sense that I focus on the present a lot more and try to plan more fun things to do with my family.”
Rory says he regrets not pushing for a colonoscopy sooner – and wants others to learn from his experience.
He urges anyone with black, tar-like stools to seek medical advice urgently.
He also wants people to know that colonoscopies are painless, quick and life-saving.
Rory added: “Go to a GI and advocate for yourself to get a colonoscopy.
“Colonoscopy is the only way to prevent colon cancer.
“99% of all colon cancers start as a polyp, so if they are removed, you shouldn’t ever get colon cancer.
“The problem today is most insurances will not cover a colonoscopy until you are 45 or older, unless you have symptoms that suggest you have a problem.
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