He Thought It Was Stomach Ache, But It Turned Out To Be Stage 4 Colon Cancer

Last Updated:June 21, 2025, 11:06 IST

Kyle Ingram-Baldwin, a 40-year-old father from the UK, died just eight months after being diagnosed with advanced colon cancer, which he initially mistook for stress-related pain

The only warning sign was a persistent stomach ache he brushed off as stress. By the time doctors caught it, the cancer had already spread. (Representative image)

A 40-year-old father of four from Kent, United Kingdom, who initially dismissed his persistent stomach ache as stress, has died just eight months after being diagnosed with stage four colon cancer.

Kyle Ingram-Baldwin first visited his general practitioner (GP) in October 2024 for ongoing abdominal discomfort, assuming it was stress-related or due to gallstones. But as the pain intensified, he went to the emergency room, where scans revealed alarming growths on his liver. Further tests confirmed secondary cancer originating from his bowel — a diagnosis that left his young family devastated.

Colon cancer, also known as colorectal or bowel cancer, typically begins in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum, and is one of the most common types of gastrointestinal cancers. While often treatable if caught early, colon cancer can be difficult to detect in its early stages due to vague symptoms, and outcomes worsen significantly once it spreads to other organs. In India, colorectal cancer is one of the top five cancers in terms of incidence.

“I was thinking, what’s going on here? What have I done wrong? I was putting the blame on my own feet and worrying about the future for my wife and kids," Kyle had said, as quoted by Daily Mail.

He underwent more than six rounds of chemotherapy, but the treatment could not halt the aggressive spread of cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that the five-year survival rate for metastatic colon cancer is around 13 per cent, while Cancer Research UK puts it at just 10 per cent. In India too, survival rates for colon cancer drop steeply if diagnosed at an advanced stage. The Indian Council of Medical Research estimates that fewer than 15 per cent of patients with metastatic colon cancer survive beyond five years.

Shortly before his death, Kyle had opened up to Daily Mail about the mental toll of his illness. “That’s probably the hardest thing: the mental side. Don’t get me wrong, the physical is not funny either, but it’s a mental challenge."

Kyle and his wife Becky had launched a fundraiser on June 8 to explore alternative treatments. “I’m not prepared to give up," he had said. But just eight days later, on June 16, Becky confirmed his passing in a heartbreaking message on the platform.

“Unfortunately, Kyle took a very sudden and unexpected turn and we lost him yesterday," she wrote. “He was the most incredible man I have ever met, and I know he would want me to thank everyone for all your sharing and donations." She added that the donations — which had crossed £15,000 — would now be refunded, urging well-wishers to consider giving to charity or “make memories with your families."

Kyle had one final message for others: “If you think anything’s wrong, please press your GP and go get it checked, because I genuinely wouldn’t want anyone being in my position."

Kyle is survived by his wife Becky and their four children, aged 12, 9, 3, and 1.

Alarming Rise In Young-Onset Colon Cancer

Kyle’s story comes amid a troubling rise in colon cancer diagnoses among adults under 50, a demographic traditionally considered low-risk.

A 2025 study published in The Lancet Oncology found that 27 out of 50 countries have recorded rising rates of early-onset bowel cancer — defined as colorectal cancer diagnosed between ages 25 and 49. England reported one of the sharpest increases, with an average annual rise of 3.59 per cent, while India recorded one of the lowest incidence rates globally — about 3.5 cases per 100,000 people per year.

Experts remain uncertain about the precise cause. While obesity is a known risk factor, many patients, including Kyle, were otherwise fit and healthy. Possible explanations range from environmental exposure to modern chemicals, microplastics, air pollution, and even E.coli contamination in food.

Common symptoms of bowel cancer include:

• Persistent changes in bowel habits (diarrhoea or constipation)
• Blood in stool
• Abdominal pain, bloating
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue

More than 44,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK, with nearly 17,000 deaths annually. In the US, the number of diagnoses is around 130,000, with nearly 50,000 fatalities. In India, colorectal cancer accounts for an estimated 65,000 to 70,000 new cases and around 50,000 deaths annually, according to ICMR and GLOBOCAN data.

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