- Alexis Boo, 38, developed crippling stomach pains after reaching 17.5st
- She thought the pain was caused by overeating so went on a strict diet
- After losing the weight she was still in pain so went to her doctor
- Was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had to have a kidney removed
- She is now a size 12 and is in remission from the cancer
An obese woman who was convinced her crippling stomach pains were the result of overeating lost 5st – only to discover she had cancer.
Alexis Boo, 38, reached 17.5st due to a diet of crisps, chocolate and takeaways.
But after shedding the weight through a meal replacement plan, she found herself still suffering frequent stomach pains.
Alexis Boo was 17st and suffered from stomach ache – she thought due to overeating. After losing 5st (right) she was still in pain – and tests revealed she had kidney cancer
Ms Boo (pictured before her weight loss) had to have one of her kidneys removed after her diagnosis
In November 2012 the mother-of-two, from Bushey, Hertfordshire, went to her GP and was immediately referred for a scan. This showed she had stage one kidney cancer.Â
Surgeons at the Churchill Hospital in Harrow removed her left kidney and, to her relief, she is now in remission.
Ms Boo, who is now a size 12, believes had she not lost the weight, she may never have been diagnosed with cancer.
She said: ‘When you’re big you worry about clothes and looking bad, but you don’t always consider the impacts.
‘Being
that big you also don’t listen to your body. You’re not in tune –
you’ll eat when you’re full and you don’t stop when you feel sick.
‘Therefore
if you have pains you put it down to having a bit too much food and you
get used to the stomach aches – so when I had cancer I had no idea at
all.’
Stomach pain can be a sign of kidney cancer, but usually in the later stages.
In a bid to shift the weight, Ms Boo switched to eating off side plates and ditched processed food.
But when the stomach pain continued, she went to see her GP.
She said: ‘Had I not done that, I don’t know if I would be here now.
Ms Boo (pictured since her weight loss with partner Peter) is now a size 12 and is in remission from the cancer
‘I would still be walking around with the tumour which would have got bigger or spread and could have been life threatening.’
‘After having the tumour removed I made a pledge that I wasn’t going to just maintain my weight but I wanted to get fit too.’
Two years on, Ms Boo now runs her own weight loss company – and has gone on to lose a further 1.5st.Â
Kidney cancer is the eighth most common cancer in adults in the UK, with 9,300 people diagnosed each year.
If found in stage one there is a 90 per cent chance of survival. But if left and discovered in stage four there is just a 10 per cent chance of living for another five years.
The disease is more likely to affect people who are overweight and smoke.
or comment on this article
-
Dog delighted to see owners again after surgery to restore…
-
Reaction as San Antonio take Miami in NBA Finals
-
Matthias Schlitte wins an arm wrestling match
-
Iraq’s Air Force releases video of airstrikes against ISIL
-
Dr. Oz testifies at hearing on deceptive weight-loss ads
-
Woman in heels faceplants on ice behind news reporter
-
Brian Williams ‘raps’ Baby Got Back
-
Cop investigated for punching woman at gay pride parade
-
Mongrel Walle is crowned World’s Ugliest Dog 2013
-
Terrified joggers have incredibly close encounter with bear
-
US ‘open to talking to Iran’ about Iraq carnage
-
Camper’s incredible close-up with an Alaskan brown bear
-
‘He’s just absolutely ignoring the Constitution’: Republican…
-
Ten women to every man, a black market in Viagra, and a…
-
Obama announces 275 US troops WILL be sent to Iraq to…
-
‘They were the kind of screams that only come from a…
-
Senate scolds Dr. Oz for touting ‘miracle’ weight-loss…
-
EXCLUSIVE: Casey Kasem’s widow Jean ‘cheated on radio legend…
-
Reformed ex-convict saves one-year-old girl crawling alone…
-
The ghost of Alcatraz: Tourists spooked by photograph of…
-
What a ledge-end! Austrian sunbather causes car pile-up…
-
Is this the most romantic engagement ever? Couple celebrate…
-
‘My dream was to be a star performer, now it is to walk’:…
-
‘More offensive than the N word’ Paula Deen’s son reignites…
Comments (0)
what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.
Find out now