Kicking Cancer's Butt because it's got a hold of mine

Strangely 2022 wasn't the worst year of my life, it started on such a high as on the 20th of January our 2nd Grandson Emyr Michael Scanlon was born. We were all so excited to see him and were eager to see just how Anton would cope with his new big brother role. Needn't of worried he's doing just great. A new year saw Amy move house, Deb celebrated her birthday in February and along with our friends Tony & Annamarie we were planning our holiday to The Gambia, we stayed in Senegambia Beach it was an amazing holiday so different to the ones we had before. This all went on with me knowing things with my body wasn't as it should, The thoughts of seeking medical advice would have to wait, in work staff was in short supply due to covid-19, holidays and absence in general. It was proving difficult to even get to see or even speak to a Dr. Upon our return from The Gambia I knew I had to see a Dr but work was picking up and we were very busy. I tried my best to put it off but...

Family is everything to me On 27th November I completed my last parkrun for a while supported by my running group Roath Park Runners who gave me a guard of honour at the finish. On the 29th Nov, I had my bowel cancer operation the surgeons took just 7hrs 30min to remove my large bowel, giving me a colostomy Stoma for the rest of my life. After the operation, I was moved to the high-dependency ward where I spent 2 nights being looked after by our NHS nurses who took great care of my family and I. They were empathetic and professional in their duties.  After 2 days I would spend the next 10 days recovering from the operation and the effects of the anaesthetic. I also had to find a way of getting through what was an absolute nightmare of a time. I was sick which I was told later was called Bile it was green in colour and made me quite poorly. We had to manage the pain I was now in waking up at all different times of the night to have my medication.  After a while, I was starting ...

Case packed but there's no flight Since being diagnosed with Stage 3 Bowel Cancer on April 13 this year my family & I have really been through a mixture of emotions. There's certainly been plenty of lows and there has been a few highs. Once the initial shock of hearing i have cancer had settled in I wanted to share my journey in hope it will show what one person goes through and get the message out about the symptoms of this deadly disease. I wanted to show Bowel Cancer is not restricted to older persons as some in the medical world still believe.  I am the youngest of 7 siblings, I was a marathon runner, relatively fit and was in good shape, I managed a cash and carry centre worked really hard, so why did I get Cancer? Why did it choose me? questions I have asked myself many many times, its only when going through this process you realise Cancer does not discriminate. Its aggressive in its attack on your body and therefore the treatment has to be just as aggressive if not ...

I can see an end in sight.  204 days ago my life was turned upside down and inside out as was my entire family. In April this year I was told after an endoscopy I had Cancer,  we later found out that it is at Stage3 Bowel Cancer, this has left our family, friends and colleagues totally deverstated, for the last 7 years I have been supporting various charities raising funds for various good causes through running. I started running 5k jumped to 10ks then completed over 20 half marathons and completed 5 full Marathons. I felt fitter than ever, happy to be alive. Enjoying my work and my life in general, we just had a new grandson life couldn't have been more happier. Then with a blink one day in April it all seemed to be taken from me "You Have Cancer Paul" words I never want repeated. YOU have all lived with this cancer with me directly or through my blog which has been read in total so far 1654 times. Now I'm pleased to announce an end is most definitely in sight. As f...

This week has been a massive step forward to my end goal of seriously kicking Cancer's Butt. I started this week having pre operation tests on heart lungs and body.  The tests are designed to rate my recovery time from this massive operation I'm about to undergo. I have been tested and been put through my paces these past couple of days by my  anaesthetist and care team, as a result I am in great shape considering what my body has endured these past 7 months.  My operation is still planned for December and they are trying to get the two surgeons booked for an early date in December as they want me out for Christmas 🎄. So fingers crossed.  When I was 1st diagnosed with Stage 3 Bowel Cancer I looked at the family events this year determined to be able to celebrate the birthday's & events of my nearest and dearest, my youngest daughter's Amy's birthday was in May when I was in hospital with complications to my heart from the chemotherapy but we managed to face tim...

Since being diagnosed with Stage 3 Bowel Cancer earlier this year and the diagnosis for treatment I always found it both difficult and frightening to accept I would have to have a permanent Stoma. My family are the most important thing to me I love them and are so proud to have them in my life. I would do anything for them. This is why I sought-after the help I needed. MAGGIES CENTRE CARDIFF  I could not get my head around having to have a stoma let alone the possibility of having to accept TWO stomas. I took myself to get counselling these past few weeks at Maggie's center Cardiff to discuss the issues around stomas, the counsellor asked me what was it I did not like about stomas I explained I have a weak stomach and I find them disgusting and I'd always find them disgusting. I can't clean and look after them. She went on to ask what my day looks like and what I do, I told her I get up early every day get washed and dressed keep busy I explained I do this so I don't fa...