A dad who insisted his rapid weight loss came from working too hard and not eating properly was suffering from cancer that was spreading to his lungs and liver. Rob Gore, 40, dismissed the symptoms until his wife Kirsty persuaded him to visit the GP.
The supply chain logistics manager, from Warrington, said: "By the time I received my diagnosis, I'd resigned myself to the fact it was something serious. I had bowel cancer and it had spread, with nodules in my liver and lung."
With nearly 43,000 people diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, it is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, according to the charity Bowel Cancer UK. More than nine in 10 new cases are diagnosed in people of 50 years of age or above, and it is more common in men, reports the Liverpool ECHO.
Three years since his diagnosis in March 2019, Rob has now returned to work full-time, after six rounds of chemotherapy followed by further treatment, including scans and medication at his local Clatterbridge Cancer centre. He said: "My wife and the kids have been brilliant.
"I have two stepchildren and a daughter and they've just climbed Moel Famau in north Wales to raise money for a charity that supports children whose family members have cancer. They were really keen to give something back and I'm so proud of them.
"We're just making the most of everything we can – trying to get out there, do stuff and enjoy life. It's been really nice to be back in work as well, seeing people, because I'm not one for sitting around."
One scan, a year ago, detected potentially cancerous growths called nodules in his lung, requiring a further six rounds of chemotherapy. He later had a non-surgical lung procedure at Royal Liverpool Hospital, which uses heat to kill cancer cells.
He shared his story for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month to encourage others not to ignore possible symptoms of cancer. He said: "I always tell friends, family, anyone – if you have any signs at all, please go and see someone. It feels huge when something in your body isn't right, but there's no need to be scared.
"Getting diagnosed with cancer isn't all doom and gloom. There're treatment available, so it's always best to get symptoms checked out and either put your mind at rest or get the care you need."
He added: "The care I've had from the NHS has been great – I can't say enough about how amazing everyone has been. I see my nurse consultant, Jeanette, regularly. She's fantastic and I have a lot of trust in the team. I'm just getting on with things and living my life."
Nurse consultant at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust Jeanette Ribton said: "Rob did the right thing by going to see his GP when he noticed blood and that he had lost weight without trying. People sometimes dismiss early signs of bowel cancer, either from embarrassment or thinking it's just a dodgy tummy.
"If you have persistent changes in bowel habit lasting three weeks or more, blood in your poo or abdominal pain or bloating when you eat, ask your GP for advice. It's also important to take part in bowel cancer screening if you're invited to do so."
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