Greg Baker, Loughborough
Sadly Greg passed away in January 2022. The following article was originally published in June 2022.
An update from Greg’s partner:
In November 2021, following a successful first round of chemotherapy, we received the good news that Greg’s cancer had been stabilised. A few weeks after this Greg began to experience increasing pain and discomfort, and in early December it was confirmed that his cancer had significantly progressed across his peritoneum. Greg spent three weeks in hospital where staff aimed to get Greg well enough to receive further treatment. In discussion with his oncologist, it was agreed that Greg could receive a round of chemotherapy with close monitoring. Greg was then discharged from hospital so that he could be at home with his family with the hope a second round of chemotherapy could be given.
Unfortunately, after a few days at home, Greg became increasingly unwell. Greg made the difficult and courageous decision to stay home with his family before blood tests confirmed that he was now very unwell and was moving towards end of life. Days later, on January 20th 2022, Greg passed away surrounded by those he loved most. Greg fought as hard as he could and we’re all so proud to have witnessed his courage throughout the short 11 months he was given following his diagnosis.
You can read Greg's story below:
I was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in February 2021, aged 27.
In February 2021, I started to develop severe stomach pains. After calling NHS 111, I was asked to see a consultant at my local hospital, who reviewed my symptoms and took some bloods. The consultant suspected I had a stomach ulcer, which would be confirmed once I provided a poo sample. Over the next few days, the stomach pain worsened, I was unable to provide a sample, and it became increasingly difficult to keep food and drink down.
A week later, I presented at A&E with a suspected intestinal obstruction. A CT scan confirmed that there was a blockage, but everyone seemed confident that, given my age and lack of other symptoms, this would be an easy fix and nothing sinister. One junior consultant even said to me “I never get to say this, but I’m certain that this won’t be cancer.”
The next day, a more senior surgeon looked at my scan results and talked me through my options. They hoped that the blockage could be released during a colonoscopy, but there was the possibility that I would need surgery to remove the obstruction, and that this could mean a colostomy bag would need to be fitted.
Following seven hours of surgery, I had been fitted with a colostomy bag and told that the cause of the blockage was a large tumor, one that they suspected to be cancerous. There were also signs that the ‘cancer’ had spread to my peritoneum. The surgeon asked me several questions regarding possible bowel cancer symptoms that I may have had. I had not experienced any of these common symptoms.
I spent a week in hospital recovering from my surgery. The COVID-19 guidelines at the time were for no visitors to the ward, however the hospital I was staying at were as flexible as they could be and allowed my partner and my family to visit me in shifts.
Once I had left hospital, a few weeks went by before we received the results of further tests, which confirmed primary bowel cancer that had spread to the peritoneum and nearby lymph nodes. The consultant classified this as stage 4 cancer.
Up until I met with the oncologist, my family and I were not fully informed on what this news meant. In my first meeting with my oncologist, they gave us the difficult news that, being stage 4 cancer, it was incurable. We were reassured that my cancer is manageable, however, and that with advances in treatment it could be managed for years to come. Despite the positive messages, it has been extremely difficult for my friends, family and I to process my diagnosis.
My diagnosis comes with a lot of uncertainty. My whole life changed the moment that I was told that they suspected I had cancer. In the early days, every conversation with consultants, surgeons, and colorectal specialists brought new information. COVID-19 meant that a lot of the news was delivered over the phone, and when I did have face to face appointments, I couldn’t have my whole support system with me.
When I was first diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, I didn’t know what my life would look like. I still don’t. We’ve all seen how cancer is represented in the media. Images of sickly people undergoing chemotherapy, with no energy to do anything and spending days unwell with side effects. Unfortunately, that is what some people go through, but that’s not me, and that’s not many of those living with cancer.
In September 2021, six months into my first round of chemotherapy and during an ‘off-week’, I trekked 25 kilometres through the Brecon Beacons in aid of Bowel Cancer UK. Along with my partner and a group of our friends, we hiked the ascent to the top of Pen Y Fan. We all underestimated how difficult the climb would be, but we made it to the summit and back down again in just over eight hours. To date, we have raised more than £19,000 for Bowel Cancer UK. We hope that this money can be used to fund vital research into new treatments that keep those with stage 4 cancer living well.
