When Nick noticed that he had been feeling much more tired than usual, he didn’t think it was anything serious. He was in his thirties and living his life - which involved exercising a lot, working a lot, and spending quality time with friends and family. It didn’t even cross his mind that it could be cancer. But then everything changed.
I never thought I would be in my thirties and have cancer. I never thought I would be in my forties, fifties or sixties. It just shows that cancer doesn't discriminate, it can affect anybody at any age.
My bowel cancer story: from symptoms to diagnosis
When I was at home for Christmas in 2020, I started noticing changes in my bowel habits. I didn’t really think much of it - I just put it down to indulging over the festive period compared to my usual diet.
But over the next month there were more changes. And then I noticed there was blood in my poo. My mum encouraged me to book an appointment with my GP and I got an appointment the same day.
Initially, the GP wasn’t too concerned that it was anything serious. But when I explained that my father had been diagnosed with bowel cancer a decade ago, she requested that I have a colonoscopy as soon as possible.
It was quite a painful experience, and I hadn’t appreciated that you could actually see the TV screen showing the camera inside you. Looking at the screen, I immediately knew that something wasn’t quite right.
My diagnosis: facing stage 3 colon cancer
After further tests, scans, and a sigmoidoscopy, they confirmed that I had stage 3 bowel cancer. There was an aggressive tumour the size of a golf ball that had broken through my bowel wall and was very close to attaching itself to my bladder.
Treatment needed to begin immediately, so I started six weeks of daily chemotherapy and radiotherapy (with weekends off) to try and shrink the tumour. Amazingly, it was a success – the tumour shrank by more than a centimetre. This news made all the struggling with side effects worthwhile, and it meant that we could move on to the next step – which was an operation to remove the tumour.
The emotional impact of bowel cancer: living with a stoma
The operation went well but in lots of ways it was also harder than I expected. I woke up with lots of scars, with tubes and machines attached to me, and I needed a temporary stoma bag to give my body the time it needed to heal properly from the procedure. I remember feeling really emotional after the surgery.
I kept thinking about everything I had gone through already, and how it wasn’t anywhere close to being over.
In between my first operation and my stoma reversal procedure, I still had to endure another six months of repeated chemotherapy. It all really affected me mentally and emotionally, and it took me a good few months to get my head around the changes to my body.
The support system that helped me through
I couldn’t have done it without the support of my parents. Moving back home with them when I was diagnosed was the best decision – for all of us.
They helped in any way that they could. My dad drove me to my appointments, and my mum took the lead in the kitchen – helping me to follow my very strict prescribed diet. It’s like it gave them an element of control – something the cancer couldn’t take over.
Life after bowel cancer: from treatment to remission
Interestingly, a histology report showed that my cancer wasn’t genetic and that sadly it was just an awful coincidence that my dad and I both had bowel cancer. But it’s scary to think that without that family history, I might not have been offered the colonoscopy that led to my diagnosis.
Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anybody, at any age. When I look back now, I can’t believe how much I’ve been through. I’m so grateful to be able to say that I’m now in remission and I can get on with my life again - being able to plan for the future is such a heart-warming feeling.
Your bowel/colon cancer FAQs:
What are the most common early symptoms of bowel cancer?
Symptoms of bowel cancer can include: changes in your poo, blood in your poo, bleeding from your bottom, tummy pain, bloating, feeling very tired or short of breath. If you have any of these symptoms for three or more weeks or you have any other concerns about your bowel please see your doctor.
Can bowel cancer affect young people?
Yes, bowel cancer can affect people of any age. So however old you are, if you notice any potential symptoms please get it checked out. Although most cases of bowel cancer are in people aged over 50, it can sometimes affect younger people like Nick. We don’t yet understand exactly why bowel cancer develops so more research is needed to understand how it grows and spreads and why it looks like rates are rising.
What should I do if I notice blood in my poo?
You should see your doctor if you notice blood in your poo. A small amount of one-off bleeding is not normally a serious problem and often goes away by itself. But blood in your poo can be a symptom of cancer or other diseases so it is always sensible to consult your doctor.
How is bowel cancer diagnosed?
The most common test for bowel cancer is a colonoscopy, where a thin tube is used to look inside your bowel. Sometimes further tests including a CT scan, an MRI scan, blood tests or genetic testing can help to determine how far the cancer has spread and what stage it is at.
Is bowel cancer curable if caught early?
Like a lot of cancers, the earlier bowel cancer is caught the easier it is to cure. If it is detected in the early stages then over 9 out of 10 patients will be cured.
What role does family history play in bowel cancer risk?
In most cases bowel cancer is not passed down through your family. There are a few genetic conditions that researchers know increase the risk of developing bowel cancer – these include Lynch syndrome, Familiar adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and MUTYH associated polyposis (MAP).
Can you get bowel cancer if there is no family history?
Yes, anyone can develop bowel cancer. Most cases of bowel cancer are not related to family history.
Are there lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of bowel cancer?
Researchers think that about half of all bowel cancers could be prevented by having healthier lifestyles.
Having a healthy diet can help to reduce your risk of bowel cancer. Research shows that eating too much red meat or processed meat can increase your risk of developing bowel cancer. Studies also show that eating enough fibre, limiting your alcohol intake and having plenty vitamin D can all help to reduce your risk.
People who are physically active and have a healthy body weight have a lower risk of bowel cancer. Smoking increases your risk of developing several cancers including bowel cancer.
What is a stoma and why might someone need one?
If someone has part of their bowel or bladder removed during surgery, they may need a stoma to remove bodily waste. A stoma is an opening that is made through the tummy wall which is made during surgery to divert the flow of urine or poo. Stoma surgery is used to treat a range of diseases including bowel cancer. Not everyone with bowel cancer needs a stoma and they are sometimes only temporary following surgery.
Having a stoma is a big change and it can take time to get used to looking after it and changing the stoma bags. If you or a loved one needs to have a stoma speak to your nurse for advice about how to manage it.
How is your support funding discovery research to cure bowel cancer?
Scientists carrying out international cancer research are working incredibly hard to look for new bowel cancer cures, thanks to your support. Dr Eros Di Giorgio in Italy is exploring how to improve chemotherapy for bowel cancer and Dr Jurian Schuijers in the Netherlands is investigating a new way to stop bowel cancer growing.
Here in Scotland Professor Lesley Stark is looking into why older people are more likely to develop bowel cancer and is hoping to find ways to prevent cancer in an ageing population.
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