A man spotted the first signs of a seemingly incurable cancer after he found it hard to go to the toilet on holiday in Edinburgh.
Phil Dobson, 26, was diagnosed with a rare form of prostate cancer after he struggled to urinate while on a trip to the Scottish capital with his girlfriend Holly Nolan in July 2021. But the BT worker, from Blyth, initially chalked the problem up to drinking alcohol until severe bladder pains prompted him to go to A&E when he returned home.
Chronicle Live reports that he was then diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue cancer that currently has no cure and can only be kept in check with ongoing treatment. For Phil, who was diagnosed at just 24, the news was devastating.
He said: "On the second day of the trip, I started having trouble passing urine. I felt like I always needed a wee, but nothing was coming out.
"I thought nothing of it because I had been drinking alcohol throughout the day and I thought I might be bloated. But on the train on the way home, I was sweating badly and couldn't sit still due to the pain in my bladder.
"As soon as we got home to Newcastle, I went straight to A&E."
Docs initially told Phil he might have a urinary tract infection, for which he was given medication, but when the symptoms failed to clear up he was sent for further tests. A visit to his GP in August 2021 uncovered a lump on his prostate and doctors at a nearby hospital discovered a tumour before giving him the heartbreaking diagnosis.
Phil continued: "The staff tried to get me to pass urine, but I couldn't do it at all. They put a catheter in me and drained my bladder.
"About two litres of urine was drained from me - a normal bladder should only hold around 500ml. I was in a lot of pain because my kidneys weren't passing urine. They did a scan and discovered it was a tumour.
"I had family in the past who had passed away after cancer. I was determined and hoped that youth would be on my side.
"Naturally, my family was devastated too. I was so healthy, did lots of exercise, and had no previous medical conditions.
"The consultant said told me that they think the tumour is incurable, but the maintenance chemo can control it and make sure it's not coming back. I have decided to just live the best life I can.
"I moved in with my girlfriend earlier this year and we got a dog, which has kept me busy and has been a really great thing for me to look forward to. I also went back to work at BT in July."
Throughout the process, Phil has been supported by the Teenage Cancer Trust and is backing a new campaign designed to raise awareness of key symptoms of cancer in young people. New research by the charity has found less than half of 18-to-24-year-olds can correctly identify the five main signs, from bumps and swellings to mole changes, significant weight change, unexplained tiredness and persistent pain.
Phil added: "Teenage Cancer Trust helped me so much – a teenage and young adult clinical nurse specialist on my unit explained what was going to happen to me when I was diagnosed with cancer. It was such a confusing time, but her support was amazing.
"It's difficult when you worry that you are wasting a GP's time, but if you know that something is wrong, don't hesitate to get it checked."
Dr Louise Soanes, chief nurse at the Teenage Cancer Trust, said: "It can be scary to think about cancer, particularly if you're a young person, but it can happen to anyone of any age. Always listen to your body and if you have concerns never be afraid to seek help - the likelihood is that it isn't cancer, but it's always best to check."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here.
