This is Me




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 I was seeing blood In the toilet pan on nearly every visit. I was concerned about what it could be and I seriously thought it was piles. One day in early March things came to a point where I couldn't take the pain any longer and I called the surgery, unable to wait on the phone I called my daughter Kirsty asking her to wait for me. She did just that and later that morning the Dr phoned me I told him about the blood and I was to visit him that evening. 




We now know as a result of that visit and further investigation at the hospital I was diagnosed with stage 3 Bowel Cancer. Telling my wife children and family I had Cancer and just how serious it was, was the hardest conversation I've ever had to have. 




Like my wife and daughters my 2 sisters in Stevenage and my brother in Peterborough have all carried this cancer with me sharing its unwanted burden. 




The next few weeks & months would see me undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments before my surgery late November, a surgery that saw the removal of my large bowel and a colostomy stoma being put in place in the knowledge I will have this for the rest of my. 




There was some highlights for sure this year my sisters visiting me was definitely a boost I needed as by the time of their vist walking was proving difficult, being able to go to London to watch my nephew Greg run The iconic London Marathon fundraising for Bowel Cancer UK was a massive highlight of 2022, With such highlights there comes low points and wow did I ever have them. Seriously at one point I even contemplated not having the surgery I need to save my life. This decision was so difficult for me to make but not as difficult as it was when I had to tell Deb and my girls of what I'd I went to Maggie's in Cardiff next to Velindre hospital for some support and thankfully I got it in the form of counselling. This counselling unlocked my fears and showed I could live a life with a stoma. I could return to work. I could live a life all be it a new life.




My running group Roath Park Runners/Walkers have been amazing during the year the support they have given me is so overwhelming. Our group continues to grow from strength to strength I'm amazed at some of the achievements made this year by them. I'm looking forward to introducing a new group to our pack early in the new year, this group is designed for those who can't run or like me walk vert far, we are calling it Couch2Walk 




I must pay a message of thanks to my employer Booker Wholesale who have fully supported my family and I throughout this journey always on hand to offer advice and support. I definitely couldn't have done this without their support. 




Currently I'm still unable to walk and find it extremely difficult to sit. I'm getting better day by day but the recovery is such a slow slow process. I'm able to care and clean Shrimp the stoma with very little concerns, I have faith in my care team and my Stoma nurse Sharon has been so helpful towards me. My aim is to return to work around April 2023




As I say goodbye to 2022 and welcome in 2023 I can't help but wonder what if the cancer was to come back and if it does do I have it within me to fight it off again? But then I think I should just be grateful I've beaten it this time and start to rebuild my new life.




I am keen to keep pushing the symptoms of this horrible Cancer as by only education will we see the end of this silent killer. I will continue to push for the poster to be in all public toilets, hotels and airlines. 

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