Maggi Blythin, Denbighshire
I’d been having symptoms for over ten years before I was diagnosed with bowel cancer. I d noticed intermittent rectal bleeding for a long time, but I first went to the GP in 2008. She carried out a rectal examination, but told me there was nothing to be worried about.
Still the symptoms carried on. Over the next few years, I had another rectal examination and even went to see a different GP but I was always told there was nothing to worry about. After my 60th birthday I took the bowel cancer screening test. The first test came back positive, but after taking another, I was given a negative result. So surely there was nothing to worry about.
I think I buried my head in the sand, because although my body was telling me something completely different, I wanted to believe I was fine.
As a former nurse I can look back on this and say I should have been referred, but I also know that I should have pushed for that referral as well. It’s a very scary thing to do, but as a patient I was in my right to request a referral and further examination.
After my symptoms continued to get worse, I went back to the GP in November 2016 and this time was referred to the hospital for a sigmoidoscopy. At my first appointment I thought I was going for a chat about the next tests I was having, so I didn’t take my husband with me. I think because I was a nurse, the medical team assumed that I knew what was coming, so not only was I alone, but I was given the news very bluntly. ‘You have cancer’. It’s not something you can ever prepare yourself for, no matter what your background.
After that everything happened quickly. I had a CT scan, colonoscopy and MRI scan. I then saw the consultant in January 2017 and within two weeks I was in surgery, having a Trans Anal Resection of Tumour with ileostomy. My cousin had not long died from cancer, so I knew the dangers of having a secondary cancer found, it terrified me. Fortunately I was very lucky, as the surgeons found that the cancer had not spread, nor had it permeated the walls of the bowel. Meaning I didn’t need any additional treatment.
I now have a stoma. I’ve chosen not to have the procedure reversed due to the risk of leaving me incontinent. I don’t know if it’s my background as a nurse, but I’m not very squeamish, which really helped me get used to having the stoma. I also had an amazing team of stoma nurses; knowing I could contact them before and after the stoma was fitted, really helped me feel supported.
I think I buried my head in the sand, because although my body was telling me something completely different, I wanted to believe I was fine.
One thing that did worry me was that I’m a vegetarian. I was given this big lists of foods that can be a no go with a stoma and with so many fruit and veg on there, I was really concerned I wouldn’t be able to eat anything I loved! But after a few months, I tried more and more things and realised that actually I could eat a lot more foods than I was expecting.
My family and friends have been amazing in helping me get through this. It was a worry, knowing I’d have to sit them down and tell them everything, but I couldn’t have gone through it without them. My granddaughter explains what happened as ‘Nannie had cancer in her bum and now she poos in a bag’, which is certainly one way of looking at it!
My daughter and son in law helped me get used to my stoma by insisting I name it. We decided on the name together: Donald Trump (though just Donald most days).
Since having cancer, my life has changed. Obviously having had an ileostomy changes things, but I’m determined to not let it feel like a thing that’s holding me back. I also think I’m now more aware of just how good life is. I feel like I have been given a second chance and I’m going to make the most of it.
Bowel cancer screening can save lives.
Bowel cancer screening saves lives but at the moment in some areas of the UK only a third of those who receive a test in the post complete it. Thousands of people are missing out on the best way to detect bowel cancer early when it is easier to treat and there is the greatest chance of survival.
How you can raise awareness of bowel cancer screening:
- Over 60? (or in Scotland and over 50?), take the test when you receive it in the post.
- If you are younger, tell the people over 60 (or over 50 in Scotland) in your life, to take the test
