Andy Webster, Grimsby

I was diagnosed with stage 1 bowel cancer in November 2024 after a FIT test and subsequent colonoscopy, with a 3cm tumour in my sigmoid colon. I will be 58 this year (2026). 

Diagnosis

My diagnosis was a huge shock. I did have a bit of blood prior, but I was on co-codamol due to knee pain and it was causing constipation. I was going to go see my doctor, but my FIT test arrived. I sent the FIT test off and two weeks later I was invited for a colonoscopy.

After the procedure I was taken to a room and they were trying to contact my wife. I knew something was wrong. The nurse specialist told me they’d found something they highly suspected was a cancer and I’d be referred to the specialist. Surgery would determine the stage. From colonoscopy to seeing the surgeon was four weeks of hell. I had other appointments, but as there was a delay with my results not being conclusive (which gave me a bit of hope), these appointments couldn't give me any news.

It was a huge shock when I was diagnosed. I always thought this type of thing happens to other people. I was worried and in unknown territory. I locked myself away in the bedroom to take it all in. I had support at home, but sometimes you just need to be alone.

Treatment 

I was put under the MDT team at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham. I had an appointment on 17 December 2024 with my consultant and he drew me a picture of the issue. His plan A was to remove part of my colon and reattach it. Plan B was Plan A with a temporary stoma and Plan C involved a permanent stoma, although he said that was highly unlikely. He was so reassuring and at this point I just wanted to get on with it. He told me to go and enjoy Christmas if I could and he would see me on January 6 for surgery.

I also had a CT scan which was the first bit of good news. There was no spread to my liver or lungs. We were delighted and just wanted 6 January to arrive. After we left the consultation, my wife and I said that we were so confident in him and left the hospital feeling very positive.

I was admitted on 5 January 2025 for bowel prep prior to surgery. This night was the loneliest I’d ever felt in my life, alone in a hospital room and not sleeping ahead of major surgery... It was the longest night of my life.

The surgery happened at 9am and I had plan B: a temporary stoma. My sigmoid colon was removed and it was very close to the anus, so to give it time to heal, I was given a stoma. There were two polyps to remove as the second one was too large to remove at the colonoscopy stage, so they left it for the surgeon, but the second one wasn’t cancerous.

I was gutted about the stoma, but my consultant came to see me, reassured me it was temporary and as soon as I was fit enough, he’d reverse it. I had open surgery, which I agreed prior to surgery as the bigger picture is seen. In my case, that was a godsend as they noticed my appendix was in poor condition, so that was also removed. I was emotionally drained, physically drained, but it was over, aside from the results.

In hospital I got mobile as soon as I could and I was sent home on Friday 9 January 2025. I was under the stoma nurses who were fabulous and I started to recover. I did have bladder issues, but the consultant said to just ride the storm and he was correct. My local GP was also key in my recovery and never gave up finding a solution to calm my bladder issues and kept an eye on my wound as it had become infected.

After surgery, my results came through: stage 1 cancer with no chemo required. My lymph nodes were clear. One small issue was that two tumours were removed, but only one result came back from the lab. My consultant was sure that two had been removed but to be 100%, he needed to give me another small colonoscopy, which he said was also a good idea to look at the repair. The missing tumour had probably dissolved before testing, which turned out to be the case. The stoma was reversed in June 2025.

After treatment and final message 

At the time of writing, I'm six months down the line from stoma reversal. I was in hospital less than 48 hours for the reversal. The skill and dedication of my medical team was unbelievable. My bowel restarted 24 hours after surgery and off home I went. I’ve had a blood test and a CT scan which were all clear and I’m awaiting a colonoscopy. I'll be monitored with blood tests for five years with a final colonoscopy.

I had excellent support through the hospital and family and friends. Work was also supportive. While in hospital my wife arranged a visiting rota, so everyone didn’t visit at once. The staff on ward 10 at Castle Hill Hospital were awesome. Day in day out, they do what they do, go home and come back and do it all again. It’s mind-blowing!

I did look at the website of Bowel Cancer UK for information, but before surgery I didn’t want to drown myself with information of what might be. I'd take everything one step at a time and tackle whatever came my way. 

My advice is to remain active before surgery. Don’t use Dr Google. Go to websites like Bowel Cancer UK and talk to advisers.

Finally, don’t let your screening kit sit on the side. It takes a few minutes to do and my screening kit and the dedication of the medical professionals caught my cancer in its early stages and has saved me from more serious treatment.