"My cancer diagnosis"

I attended A&E at Chesterfield Royal thinking I had broke my rib due to a fall in autumn 2023. I had some examinations and tests and then was sent for a scan to have a look what the problem was . Only then a few hours later to be diagnosed with bowel cancer that had metastasised to my liver (if that’s the word for spread) , I was devastated and didn't know what to say. Then I had to do the hardest phone call in my life to tell my wife what they had found. I was then allowed home but had to attend hospital the day after to arrange the plan to go forward with my treatment and investigate everything to find out what was needed treatment wise.

The speed at which everything was done was amazing. I had all the scans and cameras and biopsies done, then my chemotherapy treatment started in November 23 and I’ve been having it every 2 weeks since when I have been well enough to.

In July I collapsed at home and ended up up waking up 10 days later in critical care in a Sheffield hospital minus my large bowel after having it all removed. A tumour had dislodged and stopped blood flow to my bowel so I ended up with sepsis and they even used the word gangrene inside me, they said. So it all had to come out and I’ve now ended up with the one thing I didn't want, a stoma bag . But when I was told if I didn't have it I wouldn’t be here, I had to get used to the idea and I am fine with it now.

My heart stopped 3 times during the surgery and my wife was told I probably wouldn’t make it through the night on the day of the operation. Which obviously did not go down very good and all my family attended the hospital that night , but I did make it and I came out of hospital 18 days later. Thanks to all the surgeons, doctors and staff who were brilliant in the aid to my recovery.

It took 12 weeks before I was back on my feet properly , but the tumours grew while I was in hospital not having no treatment and the cancer spread to my lung , chest and 2 lymph nodes due to the surgery , but the surgery was done quickly to save my life so could not be helped really. I’m now back on my chemotherapy at Chesterfield Royal ngs Macmillan unit , which I need to say is an amazing place and the staff are fantastic how they treat you and talk to you .

I was diagnosed stage 4 terminally ill so therefore can not be cured from this illness , but then found out recently that all my tumours have shrunk 50% due to my treatment was fantastic to hear and I could not believe how it made me feel to hear that. My wife and my family were also over the moon to hear that , so hopefully things are looking up and maybe my treatment could be a cure , no one knows what could happen ,we can only hope .

I could not be happier with the way everything is going and the way I have been looked after at the Macmillan unit. The praise they all deserve there is beyond words and all I can really say up to now is thank you very much for all you have done and will carry on doing for me.