Dave Jones, Birmingham
Dave was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in December 2022, aged 35.
The first symptom I noticed was traces of blood in my stool but like a typical man, I put off thinking about it until it got worse. I then realised I was going to the toilet more frequently and I wasn’t always able to pass stools. My wonderful girlfriend, Nicole, had followed Dame Deborah James’s story and became concerned about my symptoms, so she urged me to see my GP.
I phoned my doctor who sent me for blood tests, which showed that I was anaemic. He then gave me an at-home poo test. When the results came back, I was sent for a two-week referral for a colonoscopy which I had in December. They told me on the spot that they’d found a cancerous tumour in my rectum, roughly 4cm long. I later learned my cancer was stage 3.
As expected, the news was a massive shock. I’ve always been a fit and healthy individual. I’ve never really been to the doctors for anything before, I’ve never smoked, and I’m only an occasional drinker. I work as a full-time chef in a hotel, which is always busy and helps keep me active.
Being a laid-back person, I felt I could cope with the news, and it was almost a relief that I finally knew what was causing my problems. I found that my friends and family struggled with it more than me. But they still provided me with amazing support, which really does help during the bad times.
It was roughly towards the end of February when my treatment started. My treatment plan was RAPIDO which consisted of short-term radiotherapy for five sessions, followed by chemotherapy. I then did six cycles of oxaliplatin and capecitabine (XELOX), then I had a break, which was followed by surgery. I had total pelvic exenteration, so I had my bladder, lower part of my bowel, prostate and seminal vesicles removed. I now have a urostomy and colostomy bag, or as I like to call them: Pinky and Perky.
I’ve coped well with having the two bags. I’m a strong-willed person and the most important point is that having the bags saved my life. Me and my partner still live a very normal life and do everyday things together, yes, we can’t have sex but we’re still in a very loving relationship.
I couldn’t have asked for more from my medical team and they’ve been amazing throughout. My operation changed several times along the journey, so I went back and forth between several hospitals. The surgeon who did my colonoscopy even phoned me before my operation and wished me luck.
As of October 2023, I’ve been told that I’m cancer free and I’m currently under no form of treatment, but I still need to have routine scans. The experience hasn’t stopped me in my tracks at all, I’m still young and have a very good future ahead of me. I hope one day to marry my girlfriend, who has been by my side through all of this.
My main message to people is: Don’t be afraid to talk about poo. We all do it, it’s perfectly natural and if you’re having issues, it’s nothing that your GP hasn’t seen before. Don’t hesitate to seek help if something has changed, even if you’re fit and healthy. Going through cancer and life-changing surgery doesn’t mean you can’t live a normal and happy life again. If you take one thing away from my story, I hope it’s a reminder to check your toilet roll after you go.
