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David McCarter, Dungannon

“Since my operation, I’ve skied, snorkelled in the Great Barrier Reef with my son and generally got on with life” — David’s journey from stage 1 bowel cancer to getting on with life 

Noticing symptoms 

At the end of 2013 I started to notice some changes in my bowel habits. I was 58, married with two sons and the owner of a large dental practice. For years I had struggled with my digestive system and had to be careful with what I ate and drank. The stress that came with my job didn’t help and I had become accustomed to odd bouts of diarrhoea.  

I was reasonably fit, carried no excess weight and apart from chronic backpain which was an occupational hazard, I considered myself in decent health. 

In November 2013, I noticed a toilet bowl full of bright red, very loose poo. When the same thing happened two days later, I mentioned it to my wife and explained I couldn’t link it to a specific cause such as having eaten something that didn’t agree with me.  

I went to my GP who carried out a rectal examination to determine if the blood had come from piles. When she said I needed a red flag referral I knew something wasn’t right. I’ve told my story to quite a number of folk and some stated they would be too embarrassed to go through a rectal examination. I always tell them that when you start on this journey you must let go of embarrassment if you want to get the right diagnosis, treatment and be in with a chance of overcoming what lies ahead. 

The diagnosis 

I went for a colonoscopy and a CT scan which confirmed that it was bowel cancer and that it appeared to have spread. Christmas that year was a sober occasion in more than one sense. Surgery to remove the tumour was planned for early January but I also had five days of radiotherapy beforehand.  

Like most folk, I searched the internet. I came across so many stories, treatments and opinions about bowel cancer that my head was fried. I found myself continually returning to Bowel Cancer UK’s website as the one that gave straight forward, practical and professional advice. You go through many twists and turns both mentally and physically on your journey, so it was — and continues to be — the go-to site for the latest information and help. 

After the surgery I was given the really good news that the cancer was stage 1 and I didn’t need any chemotherapy.

Winnie the stoma 

I needed a permanent stoma as the cancer was too close to my anus for restoration of full function to be possible. I named my stoma Winnie, as in Winnie the Poo(h). It’s a useful code word when I have to explain to those “in the know” that I need to change my stoma bag. I’ve learned a lot about living with a stoma and there is a balance between the pros and cons:  

Cons: 

  • You have to remember to bring a change with you if you’re away from home. I call mine “wee Winnie” 
  • Wind can be a problem as the bag ballons up and you may be conscious of it below tight clothing. I recommend using a drainable bag 
  • Farting can sometimes be uncontrollable and embarrassing especially if those in the room around you are quiet 

Pros:

  • You never have to sit on a public loo ever again  
  • You never have to rush to the toilet again 
  • It’s a necessary life saver 

Getting on with life  

Since my operation, I’ve skied, snorkelled in the Great Barrier Reef with my son and generally got on with life. I’m a bowel cancer survivor because I knew something was different with my toilet routine, acted on it and got an early diagnosis. 

Everyone goes through ill-health in their own way. From my diagnosis, I decided to talk about my problem and I received a lot of support and encouragement by doing so. The three f’s (family, friends and faith) were and remain very important to me.  

I decided to become a Bowel Cancer UK awareness volunteer here in Northern Ireland so that I could give back to the charity after they'd helped me. They’ve given me a focus and desire to help others.  

Listen to your body 

In April 2022, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which was also diagnosed at an early stage. I’ve since underwent surgery and 35 sessions of radiotherapy and in August 2024, my blood results showed that treatment has worked well. 

The take home message for both episodes is: don’t ignore things. Listen to your body and if there’s something wrong, try and get it seen to as soon as possible. 

A photo of David McCarter sitting in a restaurant. He is wearing a red rain coat and smiling at the camera.
A photo of David McCarter standing on a wooden deck. He is wearing a blue polo top and smiling at the camera.
A photo of David McCarter leaning against a railing in front of a dock. There are colourful houses and sail boats behind him. He is wearing a pink polo top and is holding a black helmet.

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