The life of Georgia O’Connor, a rising British professional boxer, was tragically cut short at just 25 after being diagnosed with cancer a few months ago. O'Connor believed the cancer developed due to her two high-risk conditions: ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

While she never publicly disclosed the exact type of cancer, O’Connor spoke openly about her frustration with delayed medical attention and the pain she endured.

She shared her agony on social media in January. "For 17 weeks since the start of October, I’ve been in constant pain, going back and forth between Durham and Newcastle RVI A&E knowing deep down something was seriously wrong,” O’Connor wrote. "I said from the start I felt it was cancer. I KNEW the risks. I have colitis and PSC, two diseases that dramatically increase the chances of getting it. I KNOW how high my risk is and they do too. They always did."

O'Connor said her concerns weren't taken seriously due to which her cancer spread.

"Not one doctor did the scans or blood tests I begged for whilst crying on the floor in agony. Instead, they dismissed me. They gaslit me, told me it was nothing, made me feel like I was overreacting," she wrote. "They refused to scan me. They refused to investigate. They REFUSED to listen."

As tributes pour in for the young athlete one may wonder about the types of cancer that can be caused due to the conditions she suffered.

Here's what others facing similar diagnoses should know.

Ulcerative colitis and PSC can cause this type of cancer
"She was suffering from Ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Both these two diseases together dramatically increase the chances of getting cancer," Dr Vishal Khurana, Director Gastroenterology, Metro Hospital, Faridabad told TOI Lifestyle.

Patients with both ulcerative colitis (UC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are at a significantly increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to those with UC alone, according to the expert.

This increased risk is attributed to factors such as chronic inflammation and potentially higher levels of carcinogenic bile acids in the colon.

Cancers linked to Ulcerative colitis
"Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. It is usually only in the innermost lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Having ulcerative colitis puts a patient at increased risk of developing colon cancer," says Dr Khurana.

Elaborating on the link between ulcerative colitis and cancer, Dr Nithin SG told TOI Lifestyle that chronic inflammatory bowel disease is associated with multiple systemic diseases including autoimmune diseases and cancer.

The longstanding inflammation in the colon and the body could increase cancer risk.

"One of the most common cancers associated with ulcerative colitis is colorectal cancer. The risk increases with the duration and extension of colitis. Those patients who have ulcerative colitis for 8-10 years are at a greater risk of colorectal cancer," says Dr Nithin SG, Consultant, Medical Oncology, Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj.

It may also cause colonic dysplasia which refers to abnormal cell growth in the colon's lining, specifically the epithelial tissue. It's a precancerous condition, meaning it increases the risk of developing colon cancer, but it's not cancer itself.

Dr Nithin says the inflammatory condition in rare cases can also increase the risk of small bowel cancer , where the cancer arises from the small intestine. Other cancers linked to colitis are bile duct cancer and a rare chance of lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, according to the expert.

Timely screening and treatment could help the patients beat the cancer. The treatment also includes folic acid supplementation and dietary modifications. Dr Nithin advises that patients could undergo removal of the colon before any cancer develops in case precancerous lesions are detected.