Matthew Goodson, Salisbury
I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in February 2025 aged 51.
My first symptoms started in early autumn 2024 when I noticed blood in my stools and eventually on the loo paper. I had turned 51 in early October and have always checked in the loo ever since my paternal grandfather passed away at 72 of bowel cancer and the more recent campaigns from Deborah James (bowel babe).
I work as a gardener on a private estate and always considered myself living a healthy lifestyle. I eat a high fibre diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, drink very little alcohol and I’ve never smoked. I also walk the dogs every day enjoying the fresh air, so a cancer diagnosis was the last thing I expected!
I eventually visited my GP in early January 2025 after a nagging inner voice urged me to seek medical help. I was examined, sent for a blood and a FIT test. I felt well with lots of energy and the blood test came back all normal, which was a reassuring sign. Unfortunately, the FIT test came back positive with traces of blood in my stools.
On the 12 February I underwent a colonoscopy which showed a small tumour about ten centimetres up in the rectum with a chance of spread into my pelvis. As you can imagine this came as a big shock. A week later I underwent CT and MRI scans followed by a meeting with my consultant that showed no further spread to other organs but the tumour had grown through the bowel wall. Initial biopsies showed no cancer but luckily my consultant sent me for further tests with a sigmoidoscopy procedure, which confirmed cancer.
Surgery was booked for the 17 March and the following month was a very difficult time waiting, but listening to podcasts and reading blogs on bowel cancer success stories kept me positive.
Initial surgery went well, I had an anterior resection via keyhole but a week later I experienced a large bleed and faecal vomiting and had to undergo emergency surgery. I had a small leak into my abdomen, a NG tube was put in place to drain my stomach and a temporary stoma was now needed to allow everything to heal. This was a huge learning curve to adjust to but necessary for my recovery. My infection markers were extremely high and I ended up on IV nutrition feed (TPN) along with various drains, catheter and a morphine pump. The next ten days were tough and I couldn’t believe how hard the recovery was.
20 lymph nodes were tested with only one showing signs of cancer so I was offered chemotherapy. I considered this to be a very positive outcome, so on the 8th May I had my first chemo session (FOLFOX) consisting of three hours on the chemo suite followed by two days on a balloon infusion pump through a picc line in my arm. I would need six cycles fortnightly with steroid and anti-sickness tablets. The main side effects I suffered from were some peripheral neuropathy in my hands and a feeling of lethargy and severe giddiness but overall it was bearable.
On the 22 September I had my stoma reversal operation and now will be monitored every three months over next five years followed up with regular blood tests, scans and colonoscopies. I’m also taking part in the TRACC C study trial to hopefully help others in my situation.
The NHS staff have been truly amazing along with the care from my stoma nurses, and my family and friends played a huge part in my recovery. They really helped me stay positive throughout.
My advice for anybody in the same situation is to try and stay positive, listen to podcasts and read stories from other people who have gone through similar experience.
Remember bowel cancer doesn’t need to be a death sentence if found and treated early.
- Learn more about the symptoms of bowel cancer
- Read more stories of people affected by bowel cancer
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