53 years old, happily married, father of two.
Diagnosed in December 2019 with T2N1M0 colorectal cancer. Started radiotherapy with chemo in March 2020 but after several follow up sigmoidoscopy examinations, in July 2020 I was told that the tumour had shrunk but was still there. The surgeon was confident of removing the tumour transanally (TEMS) and preserving my bowel functions so I wouldn’t need a colostomy.
After the operation I had terrible pain, life a ball of fire sitting inside me, just out of reach. I had a few visits back to hospital and in September the wound opened up and I started haemorrhaging which was pretty scary. Strangely after that, my symptoms improved and by late October I started to feel much better.
Then in early December 2020 I fell unwell with a suspected urinary infection. I was put on a course of antibiotics but things just felt wrong inside. I contacted my specialist nurse and was very quickly examined.
Unfortunately they discovered that the tumour had recurred in the same place but was now T4N2M0 and aggressively pushing through the bowel wall and into the prostate, which was why it felt like a UTI.
In January 2021 I underwent surgery and had a total pelvic exenteration involving the removal of the colon, rectum, prostate, bladder and some muscle tissue. Recovering from this 11 hour operation was gruelling and I still suffering from sciatic nerve pain which was damaged during the surgery.
I have now started chemotherapy which will finish early September, then I can start my life again.
My thanks go to my very patient family and the amazing surgical team who saved my life.
