24-year-old diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer after she overlooked continuous burping.
A 25-year-old woman in the United States who experienced persistent burping has disclosed that her symptom was indicative of undiagnosed, late-stage cancer.
Bailey McBreen from Florida began burping frequently, up to 10 times a day, in 2021. Initially, she dismissed the symptom, but sought medical attention when it progressed to acid reflux and severe stomach cramps. Ms. McBreen later received a diagnosis of stage 3 colon cancer, a development that came as a “huge shock” to her and her family.
“The first sign that something was wrong – although I didn’t realize it at the time – was when I started burping excessively,” Ms. McBreen shared with NeedToKnow. “I would burp 5-10 times a day. This was not normal for me.”
Ms. McBreen elaborated on her declining health, describing “excruciating” pain, loss of appetite, and difficulty with bowel movements. Drawing on her nursing background, she trusted her instincts that she might be experiencing some form of “obstruction” and promptly sought medical attention. Subsequent CT scans revealed stage 3 colon cancer and a tumor obstructing her large intestine.
“I never imagined it could be linked to such a terrible disease,” she expressed. “It truly felt like an out-of-body experience.” Reflecting on her diagnosis, the 25-year-old stated, “I remember the first thing I could say was, ‘I am not ready to die.’ Never in a million years did I think that any vague symptom I had would turn out to be stage 3 colon cancer.”
