Jamie Mahoney, Gloucestershire

I was diagnosed with stage 2 bowel cancer in November 2024, aged 47.

I started noticing blood in my stools in August 2024, but it was quite sporadic, so I didn’t think anything of it. Then it because more regular, to the point of it being literally every time I went to the toilet. I called the doctor and they arranged an at home test and some blood tests. I was on my way back from London for work, when I had the call from the doctor telling me the result was positive and that he was referring me for a colonoscopy.

At the appointment the consultant was talking to me about what he was doing and I could see some of it on the screen. After the procedure, I was in the waiting room, with some other people, waiting for the magic blue form which says I’m okay and can go home. When the doctor came up to me with two nurses and asked if we could have a chat, I thought then it could be something serious.

They took me into a side room and explained to me that I had cancer. He said he couldn’t say it with 100% certainty, but he knows what he’s looking for and what he saw. I started to cry, naturally. I was shocked, angry, upset and relieved all at once. He told me my feet wouldn’t touch the floor for the next couple of weeks while they arrange scans and a meeting with the cancer team at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

I had more scans; MRI, CT, and then a TRUSS ultrasound to determine the exact size and position of the tumour. It was 35mm in size, bleeding and was just inside the rectum.

In February I had surgery to remove the tumour and the hope was that it would be enough. After the surgery I was fine initially, but then roughly two weeks later I had an infection so ended up in hospital for a week. During the hospital stay it was confirmed that they removed the whole tumour successfully, but unfortunately there were two markers (lymph node invasion and cell budding) that meant it was stage two and I would require further surgery.

In May I was booked in for surgery to remove my anus, rectum, and part of the colon, and be left with a permanent colostomy. The surgery was successful, however two days later I was rushed into surgery due to being found grey, clammy and unresponsive. I had lost three litres of blood. I was in intensive care for three days afterwards. Overall, I was in hospital for 12 days.

After coming home, I think it was around 3 weeks after, the scar in my bottom had come open due to sepsis, so I was readmitted for another week.

I'm still coming to terms with everything that happened. Some days I hate how my body looks, and wish things were how they used to be, but then I remember that the cancer has gone and the surgery was life changing, but also life saving.

I'm now in remission. I've had my first set of cancer screening blood tests and they came back with a low score, which was good news. They'll observe me for the next five years.

I’m confident about the future, obviously nervous about cancer returning, but I also know that I can’t really control that, apart from trying to live a healthier lifestyle.

My employer, Pro Global, were amazing from the outset. When I told my manager I was offered time off to get my head round things if I needed it, but I preferred to carry on working. My team were really supportive too. When I returned to work I was given the opportunity to return on a phased basis, but again I decided full time straightaway was the best option for me. I still struggle with sitting for long periods of time, so take regular breaks and my manager asks me regularly if I'm having enough breaks, if they can do anything to help or make things easier. I've also recently discovered they are doing the ‘Craft for a cause’ in aid of Bowel Cancer UK so I'm happy about that.

I’m just thankful to my employer, the NHS, and my friends and family, who go through this but in a different way.

I would just say that if you notice anything strange about your ‘movements’ to get it checked, no matter how trivial it seems. The sooner this cancer can be diagnosed and treated, the better.