Alison Crooks, Southampton

Alison was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in 2023, after she ran the London Marathon to fundraise for us.  

In March 2020, my friend Sharon was rushed to hospital after experiencing severe pain. She underwent emergency surgery and was then diagnosed with bowel cancer. She had two years of treatment, but sadly passed away in September 2022.

I needed a focus after losing my friend of 30 years and decided to contact Bowel Cancer UK for an entry place into the 2023 London Marathon, which I was then lucky enough to secure. I’d first run the marathon in 2006, and at the time, said never again, but I needed to turn Sharon’s death into something positive.

The training went really well. I had some tummy troubles, mainly just going to the toilet more frequently, but put it down to ‘runner’s tummy’. I mentioned it in passing to my GP, and she gave me an at home test that checked for blood in my poo.

I then ran the London Marathon and raised over £6,700 for Bowel Cancer UK. I was elated; it was such a high. With hindsight, I now look back on the photographs and think: “You ran the marathon with bowel cancer”.

Two days after the marathon, my GP called to say my sample had tested positive for hidden blood, and I was referred for a colonoscopy. The doctor informed me and my partner there was something causing a narrowing of the bowel and whilst he didn’t say it was cancer, he was honest and said that it looked bad. Following a biopsy and CT scan, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer on 8 June 2023.

I was in shock. I was only 47 and have always considered myself to be fit and healthy. I went through a stage of asking, “Why me?”, but then quickly realised this was too negative. If one in two people get cancer, then the chances are high. I realised instead I should be wondering, “Why not me?”.

I had a sigmoid resection to remove the cancer and didn’t require a stoma. Following further biopsies, cancer cells were found in only one lymph node of 17 that were removed. I’d initially been diagnosed as stage 2 but following surgery, they found it was stage 3.

My oncology team were wonderful. The routine treatment for this cancer is CAPOX, however my blood tests confirmed I was unable to have this combination. This was a wake-up call to the advances made in treatment as I was informed that five years ago, the blood test I’d had wasn’t routine and had to be paid for. Without this blood test, I would’ve continued with CAPOX and my oncologist said it could’ve been fatal for me. Instead, I was put on a combination of raltitrexed and oxaliplatin.

I found chemotherapy more terrifying than surgery and I had four rounds of infusion. Each time, the symptoms were worse. There were some early onset typical symptoms like pins and needles, loss of taste and appetite but during the second week, I suffered with depression. It took me to a very dark place, to the point I was planning my funeral music. 

Later, I was given the all clear on 5 December. I couldn’t have asked for better support from my medical team and GP. I feel blessed that I had swift action throughout. My friend Sharon was not as fortunate, and perhaps that saved me, as I was more aware of what to look out for.

I have a programme of checks for the next five years. My first colonoscopy and CT scan are booked for June 2024. Whilst I’ll be anxious about these, I’m living in the moment. I can’t control the future, but I can enjoy what I have now.

I once read a mantra on the Bowel Cancer UK forum that I’m sticking with: “Don’t let the fear of the future, ruin your today.” I’m currently back at work full-time and have just come back from a week in Lanzarote. I’m back to running regularly and planning lots of holidays. Though I sometimes can’t believe what’s happened, I just want to focus on the future. I now feel that last year is behind me.