Steve’s story – Bowel Cancer
"If you have blood in your poo, it needs checking out. If it's not normal for you, then get it checked. Don't put it off."
Tell us a little bit about yourself
“I’m Steve and I’m 61 years old. I live in Liverpool with my wife, Caroline, and have two adult sons. I recently retired from being a data analyst and enjoy running.”
When did your symptoms begin of bowel cancer and what were they?
“In December 2021, for the first time in 39 years of giving blood, I couldn’t give blood as the amount of healthy red blood cells in my body were too low. I was given a leaflet about anaemia (a condition that develops when your blood produces a lower-than-normal amount of healthy red blood cells) and told to see my GP without delay. The previous summer, I had been finding it difficult to keep up with my friends when running but just put it down to losing fitness during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, by Christmas 2021, I felt constantly tired and booked a doctor’s appointment.”
Talk us through the tests
“Further tests showed that my anaemia was getting worse. Upon seeing a doctor, I had a physical examination, which the doctor told me didn’t reveal any concerns, but a FIT test (Faecal Immunochemical Test) showed blood in my poo. I was booked in for tests to look at my digestive tract (a gastroscopy (a thin tube with a camera on the end inserted via the mouth to look at the throat, oesophagus (gullet) and stomach) and colonoscopy (a thin tube with a camera on the end inserted up the back passage to look inside the rectum and colon)). I wasn’t looking forward to them but knew they were necessary.
During my journey to diagnosis, my thoughts flipped from “it’s something trivial” to “it’s something terminal”. I searched the internet for something reassuring, but there was little to be found.”
What did the tests reveal?
“The tests revealed that I had a tumour at the far end of my large bowel (colon). I remember thinking upon seeing the tumour on the monitor that it didn’t look like it should be there. Afterwards, my wife, Caroline, and I saw the doctor, who explained that the results were very concerning and that I’d need treatment. I think someone eventually said “cancer”, but I can’t remember who. Everything was such a blur. I thought they were talking about someone else. Besides the tiredness, I felt fine.
Each appointment that followed seemed to bring more bad news. The future felt very bleak. My only thought was that if I could be given an opportunity to fight it, then I would. A CT scan (a non-invasive, medical imaging technique used to obtain detailed internal images of the body) and biopsies (tissue samples) showed no spread of the cancer beyond the lymph nodes (stage 3). This felt like the first piece of good news for months. Nevertheless, it was still stage 3, and I was very aware of that.”
What treatment have you received for bowel cancer?
“In March 2022, I had robotic, keyhole surgery to remove the tumour. I was advised to have three months of chemotherapy (every three weeks via an infusion in hospital then the tablets at home with rest weeks off the treatment too), to blast any cancer cells that were left after surgery.
Chemotherapy is hard. The nausea could be controlled, but the fatigue was like nothing else. The rest weeks off the treatment allowed me to regain some energy and the wonderful support of my wife and whole family made everything much more manageable.”
How are you now and how does bowel cancer impact your everyday life?
“After chemotherapy, I slowly but steadily regained strength and energy. Almost a year to the day since my surgery, in March 2023, I ran the Liverpool Half Marathon for Guts UK wearing a Guts UK running vest! It’s difficult to explain how fantastic it felt. In fact, it was the very opposite of the dark day of my diagnosis.
Now, I have regular blood tests, along with follow-up colonoscopy tests and CT scans, but these are the only things that have changed for me compared to before diagnosis.”
Is there anything you’d say to someone when it comes to their digestive health?
“If you have blood in your poo, it needs checking out. Fatigue may be a less obvious symptom, but the key is that if it’s not normal for you, then get it checked. Don’t put it off. Earlier is always better. If someone else’s increased awareness brings earlier treatment, thanks to me sharing my story, then that’s wonderful.
Like other colorectal cancer patients, I was treated by immensely skilled clinicians using facilities and drugs developed over decades, some of which are still being developed now. But it’s on us to take up the screening tests we are offered and to look out for changes versus our “normal” health.”
Why do you want to support Guts UK charity?
“Digestion is something we are aware of every single day, but when there’s a problem, it can have a huge impact. The research that Guts UK supports and the guidance and information they can provide across many conditions improves lives.”
About Guts UK
Guts UK is the only UK charity funding research into the digestive system from top to tail; the gut, liver and pancreas.
People are suffering. People are dying. All because of a lack of knowledge about our guts. Guts UK exists to change that.
With new knowledge, we will end the pain and suffering for the millions affected by digestive diseases. Please consider donating today. Your donation will help fund research leading to earlier diagnoses, kinder treatments and ultimately, a cure.
