Melanie North, St. Albans
I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in February 2022 following a colonoscopy I pushed for.
I’ve been married since 2002 and have a son and a daughter, both now 29 and 21. We have a sausage dog, Ringo, who is 10. I’ve mainly worked in administration roles in various sectors. I had only returned to a full-time role for five months before I was diagnosed with rectal cancer.
My diagnosis
In 2021, I could feel something like a skin tag at the bottom of my rectum when I was showering. I asked the nurse to have a look at it when I was having a smear test in July 2021. She said it was probably a polyp and that was that.
By September, I was experiencing blood when I was wiping. I saw a doctor who said that after an examination, it was the wrong colour of blood to be cancer. I was too young for that and had no family history or weight loss. They ordered blood tests which came back fine, and I was sent away to buy some Anusol. They said it was probably piles.
I then had an episode overnight in October which was so painful. I rang the GP and they said it was probably twisted piles. As I’d already had an internal examination, they said to take some painkillers.
Eventually it was so sore to sit. Going to the toilet, there was more blood and my poos were thin. I felt like I needed to go to the toilet all the time. I was given laxatives then.
In January I was very insistent with my GP, and I finally ended up being referred for a colonoscopy. The doctor said he couldn’t get past my rectum – that was where the tumour was. He was pretty sure it was cancer and that was confirmed after the biopsy.
I was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer. I was in total shock, as cancer hadn’t been in my head at all.
My treatment and the aftermath
On that day I was told I had rectal cancer. It was inoperable unless treatment shrunk it. I would have a stoma bag for life and go straight into the menopause.
I went on the two-week pathway, had my biopsy results and saw my oncologist, and then I was told my treatment plan. I had pelvic radiotherapy over five days and then four rounds of chemotherapy. This did shrink the tumour enough for surgery, so I had APR surgery in November 2022 and all went well. There was no lymph node involvement, but the cancer had advanced into my vagina back wall, so that was taken out.
My family were great and having older children helped. My stoma nurse was also great, but there are so few of them that you feel alone once you are back at home.
You have to learn to adjust to so many new ways of thinking – it’s not just great that I am cancer-free. There’s an aftermath to the radiotherapy, the healing of my bottom being sewn up, and having a stoma – things like making sure the right supplies are supplied and learning how to stop leaks.
I have been cancer-free ever since and I’ll have my next CT scan for my four-year check-up later this year. I am a positive person, and after losing my parents so suddenly in 2012 and 2015, it prepared me for this journey somehow. I don’t let my stoma hold me back and I love being out and about. I can get tired very quickly though, so I listen to my body and sometimes have rest days or a nap instead of going out.
The support I had
My family were great and still are. I had my treatment with the NHS and had my surgery with the same consultant but at a private hospital. I was able to contact him with any issues I had once I was home.
The stoma nurse was lovely, but I realised that they are affiliated with a brand of stoma suppliers, which caused issues. The care from the radiotherapy department and the chemo unit was amazing.
I looked on the Bowel Cancer UK forum during treatment to see if anyone else was having the same issues as me. That did help me late at night.
My main message
My main message would be to always persist for further checks from your GP or ask for a second opinion. Only you know your body.
Don't be scared to talk about issues with your bowels, so many of us have an issue in some way. It can save your life. I have met so many people through talking about my story and helping others through their stoma journey, before and after using my Instagram @friendswithstomas.
