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

June has been a busy month but now it is coming to an end its time I reflected, June was a month where daily injections into my stomach stopped and I now take blood thinning tablets instead, A month where my Picc line came out and a month where I had intensive Radiotherapy treatment.  It was also the month where we sadly had to say goodbye to Dame Deborah James although this incredible inspirational lady has passed away at the young age of  just 40, I for one are so grateful for the work she did in raising awareness of Bowel Cancer, I have listened to her podcasts and followed her last few months journey on social media. Her work has inspired me to use my cancer to help others I want to share my story the good the bad and the dam right ugly to help others I want others not to be embarrassed about talking our toilet habits or our poo for that matter.  So I had my last radiotherapy on Wednesday 22nd June and a week later how am I feel...

Because of the complications suffered during my 1st bout of chemotherapy it was decided  I would commence with radiotherapy and chemotherapy would be paused.  Radiotherapy would consist of 5 treatments 1 every day Would only last about 25 minutes these would take place at the Velindre hospital. I went into radiotherapy not expecting too much wondering what side  effects if any I would get If any the only ones I did get was extreme tiredness and fatigue had some discomfort whilst going to the toilet and still showing signs of blood in my stalls. I have now had all 5 treatments and the team have been amazing letting me take photos and video of the equipment used so I can share with others.  So treatment pauses now I wait until the 6th of July when we meet with the care team at Velindre hospital where we will discuss the the treatment going forward, it looks like perhaps chemotherapy will start on the 8th of July but I have bloods on the 6th of July and that will determ...

JUNE 2022 21st  Had a telephone consultation with my Dr at Velindre hospital this morning in regards to my medication mainly the blood thinning injections 💉 I've been having daily injections now in my stomach for the past month, my poor wife and daughter having to administer these every morning I know was just as painful for them as it was for me.  The Dr has said I can now start to take the tablet form of blood thinners this is so exciting to me as now the bruises can start to heal around my stomach.  So I take 1 tablet in the morning and 1 before I go to bed. Hopefully I won't get any side effects fingers crossed. 

October 2021 London Marathon training in full swing and whilst going to the toilet one day I noticed some blood on the loo paper, not loads but enough to make me think. I spent the next few days wondering what it was I was seeing. The day came for the marathon and I ran it in full knowledge of what was going on below. I came home to a hero's welcome from my family friends and my chosen charity Shelter Cymru.  The thought of going to the Dr was far from my mind, work was picking up and staff were dropping with covid-19 on a weekly basis. My daughter Kirsty turned 35 this month and I turned 52 so we celebrated both. We were fast approaching November by this time I started to get some real back pains but I just carried on w orking and trying to run.  November 2021 By the time November came I was finding it incredibly difficult to run, the pain in my back had grown more severe and I had become more tired. The blood in my poo by now was more frequent but going to the toilet was not...