I’m a female endurance athlete, ultra trail runner. I was battling low iron and fatigue for several years. My regular GP just said each time. “you’re a female athlete. What do you expect?” and kept sending me for iron infusions. Luckily on another visit to my GP, she wasn’t available, so I saw a locum. She was quick to see I’d had 4 iron infusions in 3 years, but levels kept dropping., plus I was no longer menstruating, so couldn’t understand the low iron. From there a colonoscopy, tumor found lower sigmoid area. I had surgery and chemo, staged 3b. On my 1-year CT scan checkup, a nodule was found on my lung. I’ve just had a lung resection, margins clear, so now on closer surveillance and stage 4. My message, especially to runners or athletes. Don’t always assume your fatigue is normal.

Exercise

Connect with Julie