So how did you first find out you had cancer?

That’s a question people have asked – when and how did I first know I had cancer ?

A story I am happy to share as it lets me talk briefly about running, use my favourite emoji (💩) and I can do some gentle encouragement to others to look after their health 🧐. Sorry if it’s a long one!

So it started with running – a slightly reduced schedule pre- Christmas after my half marathon in October. Occasionally I’d get a queasy tummy and a bit of a leak (💩). Into January and February it was happening again – slightly embarrassing but I did my usual thing of ignoring it and assuming it would fix itself. Advice #1 – don’t ignore your body!

As we moved into March and April then it happened on dog walks. Time to check it out.

So it took me 3 weeks to sort out my online account with the doctors. Advice #2 – get yourself registered and online with your GP. Appointments are like hens teeth – don’t make it any harder!

An initial consultation led to a meeting with a consultant and blood and FIT tests (that’s a posh way to say poo test 💩😂). The FIT test came back with blood so the consultant set up a colonoscopy – a camera up the bum.

On 27th June the Consultant carried out the Colonoscopy. At the top of the bowel there were 4 polyps (all removed, subsequently tested and benign). As he came back to the rectum it was clear, even to me, drugged up and non-medically trained, that there was a large green tumour. (Again test later confirmed this was cancer).

I sat with the consultant after the scan – luckily Judith had arrived so I had support. Advice #3 – don’t face these things alone. Let loved ones be with you as much as you can. You need them and their support to get through the challenges.

The consultant confirmed it was cancer – it was then I moved into the next stage. Scale, scope and spread. But that’s a story for another day

So above all else, listen to your body. Notice any changes and get them checked out.

And my final advice #4. Don’t run ahead of yourself. At that stage I didn’t know any more so choose not to panic. I decided to let a few people know but largely waited until I had the full picture and then dealt with what I had, not what it could be. Once I had this I could be more open and share more. The key is to manage the cancer how you want to. Not everyone has to do a blog!😀