Inside Love Island star's agonising health battle with disease that could lead to bowel cancer
But beneath the hard exterior, she is battling a devastating condition that puts her at risk of deadly bowel cancer.
The 24-year-old from Connecticut in the US, who has seen a rocky romance with co-star Harrison Solomon, was diagnosed with chronic bowel disease ulcerative colitis back in 2017.
The disease, which involves severe and painful inflammation in the gut, saw the Las Vegas-based waitress spend the day of her prom in hospital for an emergency blood transfusion in order to save her life.
Now, she's appearing on the show in order to 'show viewers that not all illness are visible, but they don't have to hold you back,' she said in a recent interview with ITV.
Common symptoms of the condition, which affects around 300,000 people in the UK, include debilitating diarrhoea, abdominal pain, extreme tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Symptoms can also worsen and affect other parts of the body causing fat to swell under the skin, painful joints and even weakened bones.
Most concerningly, patients also have an increased risk of bowel cancer, with the risk becoming more severe the longer a patient has lived with the disease.
The severity of symptoms can vary depending on how much of the rectum and colon is inflamed. For some people, it can have a significant impact on their daily lives, the NHS says
Living with the condition for 30 years can increase the risk of bowel cancer by 18 per cent, according to studies.
Around 32,000 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK, with rates of the deadly disease surging in under 50s.
Before entering the Love Island villa, Ms Laites, who goes by Toni, admitted that she made headlines in local newspapers at 17-years-old after opening up about her condition.
She told ITV: 'I had to go to hospital the same week as my senior prom for an emergency blood transfusion.
'Nothing that exciting happens in Connecticut, so it was a big deal and a few articles were written about me.'
While Ms Laites didn't say why she needed the transfusion, colitis patients are at an increased risk of developing anemia—a severe deficiency of iron in the blood that can cause life-threatening problems.
This happens due to inflammation in the large intestine that can prevent the body from absorbing iron properly, as well as internal bleeding caused by the disease.
A blood transfusion is the most common treatment for severe anemia.
According to the UK Crohn's and Colitis UK charity, the disease is most often diagnosed in people aged between 15 and 25.
While the condition cannot be cured, treatment can help relieve symptoms during a flare-up and prevent symptoms from returning.
This can be achieved through drug treatments, but in some cases surgery—which involves removing some or all of the bowel.
This involves the small intestine being diverted out of an opening in the abdomen known as a stoma.
This surgery can also be used to aid recovery following the removal of any cancerous cells from the bowel.
Ms Laites' story comes amid a surge in bowel cancer cases in young people—many of who are perfectly fit and healthy.
While research is yet to identify a specific smoking gun, groups of scientists have posed a variety of theories, including rising obesity levels, poor diets and microplastic pollution.
Common symptoms of the disease include needing to go to the toilet with more urgency, rectal bleeding, blood in the stool—which may appear red or black in colour—and change in consistency.
Some patients may also experience abdominal pain, bloating and unexplained weight loss.
According to the NHS, many ulcerative colitis sufferers are often unaware they also have bowel cancer, as the initial symptoms are very similar.
However, people with the condition will be offered regular check-ups to look for tell-tale signs of bowel cancer, helping doctors diagnose the disease early.
Overall, just over half of bowel cancer patients are expected to be alive ten years after their diagnosis, with 90 per cent of people diagnosed at stage 1 surviving for at least five years.
It comes as ulcerative colitis patients are set to benefit from a new drug that can eliminate debilitating symptoms in just three months
The once-a-month jab deliver a drug that binds to immune cells that cause the damage, significantly reducing symptoms.
Earlier this month, the drug safety watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, gave the green light for guselkumab to be prescribed in the UK to patients who have failed to respond to other treatments.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Former NFL star is diagnosed with rare form of cancer as football legend makes huge donation for treatment
The NFL world is rallying around former star Bryan Braman after it was revealed that he's been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Braman, 38, was signed by the Houston Texans as a free agent in 2011, before spending seven years in the NFL and later retiring with the Philadelphia Eagles. It was during his time with the Eagles - in 2017 - when Braman reached the Super Bowl and helped the side defeat the New England Patriots 41-33 on the night. Now, however, things are very different for the former defensive end after it was revealed that he's 'undergoing a Car-t cell reprogramming treatment program in Seattle'. Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho took to X on Thursday to reveal the news and plead for donations from Eagles and NFL fans alike. He wrote: 'I'm sad it's taken me so long to see this. @Eagles fans, we need you to be teammates right now. 'My teammate & SB Champ, Bryan Braman is battling an extremely rare cancer He laid his body on the line for Philly, & now he needs Philly to survive'. Acho also provided a link to the GoFundMe which has been set up for Braman. A total of $46,495 has been raised already, at the time of writing. Among the donators is three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt, who contributed a stunning $10,000 to the fund. The description for Braman's GoFundMe reads: 'Bryan is home with his family after undergoing a Car-t cell reprogramming treatment program in Seattle. 'With the cancer that Bryan has, which is a VERY rare form of cancer, the Car-t treatment had the highest chance of success as the cells are reprogrammed to fight this cancer that is within Bryan. 'Bryan has had to undergo several surgical procedures. The main problem has been that Bryan has not been able to recover from the procedures because of his lowered immunity due to all of these treatments. 'The Dr's are now concerned because of his treatment, his chemo options are very limited. They have tried all of the various treatment options, and unfortunately, none of them are working against this cancer. 'But Bryan has not given up. He is looking into other trial treatment programs, and is determined to never give up'. Further details, provided by organizer William Jones, read: 'I am trying to raise $15,000 to pay for housing for him, his caregiver, and his uncle as they all live together. 'He is also in need of food or meal cards. Restaurant gift cards would be great in addition to any cash donations anyone can afford to help with'.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Should you use hydration multipliers in extreme heat?
It's officially the 'Dog Days' of the summer season — and they're getting hotter and more humid thanks to the impact of the human-caused climate crisis. In extreme heat, hydration is critical to prevent heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. The adult body is 60 percent water, and drinking enough each day helps regulate body temperature, prevent infections, and maintain organ and other key functions. Hydration multipliers - powders, packets, and liquid drops that you add to water - have become popular to boost that process and replenish electrolytes that are lost when we sweat. Electrolytes are substances that help your body to regulate chemical reactions and maintain the balance between fluids inside and outside your cells. Nearly every fluid and cell in the body contains electrolytes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 'When we sweat, we lose more than just fluids, we also lose electrolytes — mostly sodium and chloride, but also smaller amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium," Dr. Scott Braunstein, chief medical officer at medicine concierge company Sollis Health, told CBS News. "While it all could all be replaced by drinking water and eating a variety of solid foods, for those not ready for a meal, drinking electrolyte-containing fluids is a great way to replace the losses in sweat." So, should you add a hydration multiplier to your water this summer? Here's what to know... How they work Hydration multipliers hydrate the body faster than water alone due to a process that takes place in the small intestine and rapidly pulls not just water, but other nutrients, into cells. 'The hydration multiplier maximizes your water uptake by using the sodium and glucose co-transport across the stomach while pulling water along,' Texas Health explains. 'With such optimal sodium to glucose ratio, water gets transported into your body faster than if you drank water alone.' The formulas also carry potassium, calcium, and essential vitamins. Experts recommend using them when exercising for long periods of time or following heat exposure. 'When you drink plain water, it is absorbed primarily by osmosis through the walls of the intestine,' registered dietitian Mia Syn told Vogue. But if you're dealing with an imbalance of electrolytes—say, you just ran a half-marathon or are feeling the effects of a few too many negronis — then plain water may not be absorbed as efficiently, she says. There's nothing as good as plain water Water is generally a safer bet than hydration multipliers because of what else might be on the ingredient list. For example, some electrolyte drinks contain more sodium and sugar than nutritionists recommend you consume in a day. That may be harmful for people suffering from chronic conditions, such as diabetes. Too much sugar can lead to kidney damage in people who have diabetes. 'Electrolyte drinks in general are safe for young athletes, but it's important to avoid any that contain caffeine,' University Hospitals pediatric sports medicine specialist Dr. Laura Goldberg said. 'Many people believe electrolyte drinks and powders are healthy, but they have a large amount of sugar which is unnecessary unless you're exercising for more than 60 minutes.' Too many electrolytes can also lead to unintended consequences, such as weakness, headache, tremors, confusion, muscle cramping, rapid heartbeat, and gastrointestinal issues. Many of the signs of an electrolyte imbalance are similar to dehydration symptoms. Check with a physician before drinking hydration multipliers. "Those with certain chronic conditions, especially kidney disease — since your kidneys regulate your electrolytes — high or low blood pressure or heart disease, should consult their doctor before consuming these products, as maintaining fluids and electrolytes within a specific range may be critical for their health," Braunstein added.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Millions of flies to be dropped over Texas to combat flesh-eating maggots
The federal government is going to take millions of sterile flies and dump them on Texas in the hopes that they'll kill off a species of insect known for laying its flesh-eating larvae in the wounds of warm-blooded animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an upcoming project where it will reportedly breed millions of flies, blast them with radiation to make them sterile and unleash them on Texas and Mexico in hopes of reducing the population of the New World Screwworm and its flesh-eating maggot larvae. The sterile, irradiated male flies will be released in hopes that they'll mate with wild female screwworm flies. The hope is that the female flies will produce unfertilized eggs that don't hatch, ultimately reducing the number of screwworm larvae. The end goal is to see the screwworm population die out in the region. The New World Screwworm Fly is primarily found in forests and wooded areas, but also seek hosts, including cattle and horses. Females will typically lay their eggs in the open wounds of live, warm-blooded animals. The maggots, once hatched, burrow into the flesh of the host. Their presence in the wound can potentially kill the host animal. The flies burrow into the bodies of their hosts in a screw-like fashion, hence their name. The flies — which are endemic to Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and some South American countries — were thought to have been wiped out in the U.S. as far back as 1966. The screwworm can infest humans. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that individuals in the affected areas who "spend time among livestock animals, sleep outdoors and have an open wound are at greater risk of becoming infested with [New World Screwworms]." Because of the fly's infestation method, individuals who have recently had surgery are at a higher risk of infestation "as the flies will lay eggs on open sores," the CDC warned. Unfortunately, the screwworm flies have reemerged recently in Texas following an outbreak in Mexico. That became public in May, which prompted the USDA to temporarily suspend live cattle, horse, and bison imports across the U.S. - Mexico border to prevent any further spread. The U.S. used the sterile fly method to almost entirely wipe-out the screwworm flies between 1962 and 1975. In the decade before the fly program began, the USDA estimated that livestock producers in the southwest U.S. lost approximately $50 million to $100 million annually as a result of the fly. To facilitate the new version of the fly program, a factory aimed at breeding and producing the sterile flies will open in southern Mexico in July of next year. After that, a fly distribution center will be opened in southern Texas to import and distribute the sterile flies throughout the southwest.
