I thought I was just bloated - then friend told me to call 111 immediately

A 39 year old man, Rob McPherson, began experiencing stomach pains, diarrhoea, nausea and worrying bloating, initially dismissing his symptoms as a possible intolerance to beloved foods like bread and beer. While playing football weekly and maintaining his work in digital media and marketing, McPherson's discomfort escalated around October, stating: "I was just a normal guy playing football every week, going to work as usual and then I started feeling a little bit ill around October time. I was getting cramps for no particular reason."

He speculated, "I thought I was maybe allergic to something or I was becoming intolerant to bread or beer. At the time, I thought 'I hope I'm not intolerant to those because I quite like my beer and my pizza'. The stomach cramps turned into bloating as well." His enjoyment of meals diminished, as McPherson elaborated, "I was eating stuff and wouldn't be enjoying the food as much."

Describing his worsening condition, he added, "There was one week towards the end of November where I was just in bed for a week. I was off work for a week and I'm never off work. I was struggling to sleep because my stomach was sore and kept being bloated, and it meant that I was losing sleep as well.

"I had to sleep on my back because the bloating was so bad. I was getting a bit tired from that. I was trying to get food and drink in me but it was coming back straight back up again. I ended up not eating a lot as well, because I thought 'what's the point if it keeps coming back up again.'", reports Wales Online.

"By the Thursday of that week, my boyfriend Sam, who's now my husband, forced me to call the non-emergency number for the NHS. I thought they would tell me to take some paracetamol or something. But they sent out an ambulance for me.

"Even when they came I thought, 'Oh, maybe it's a bit serious but it's not really that bad.' They asked me a few questions, took a few measurements and then said: 'We need to take you to hospital.' When they said that I thought, 'Oh, okay. Something's seriously wrong here.' It had been a couple of months from my first symptoms."

Rob was rushed to hospital where a scan revealed a mass around his stomach area that required immediate attention. He underwent surgery within 12 hours. Doctors informed him he would need a biopsy and have a stoma inserted.

"I was scared and nervous, but it had to be done," Rob remembers. "After the operation, I was off work for the rest of the month trying to get used to the stoma. I was figuring out how it works, how to manage it and to get my energy back up after the operation. I was operated on the first day of December, and three days before Christmas Day, I got the diagnosis that it was bowel cancer."

Rob underwent five weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to shrink the size of the 7cm tumour, which was subsequently removed in July 2018. He then had to undergo additional chemotherapy to eliminate any remaining cancer. In February 2019, Rob underwent surgery to have his stoma removed, leaving behind a scar. He emphasises the importance of not ignoring symptoms or trying to "tough it out" especially in light of NHS England research showing that nearly half of men feel pressured to do so with health concerns.

"The scar is a reminder of what I went through, but I'm quite proud of the scar in that it reminds me that I've been through quite a lot and got through it," Rob says.

He urges others to pay attention to their bodies: "I want to tell others not to ignore any worrying symptoms: the earlier you find this, the more treatable it is. I probably left it a bit longer than I should have: I maybe thought I could tough it out or I could just deal with it."

Rob admits he initially downplayed his symptoms: "I was a bit blasé about the symptoms and now that I know what the symptoms are, I keep an eye out for them a lot more and I'm a lot more aware of them. I think quite a lot of people are worried about causing a fuss and giving the GPs more work."

He reassures that seeking medical help is crucial: "But that's what the GPs are there for and the NHS is there for, they're there to help to put people's minds at rest. When you're ill, a lot of things go through your mind. You think the worst things, you think the best things and until you actually go and get tested and find out, you're wasting a lot of time and there's a lot of worry."

Rob expressed his gratitude for the excellent care he received, stating: "I'd also tell others to talk to family members and friends, because they can maybe see symptoms more and they can talk you into going to the doctors. The NHS is really busy but they're really good at what they do and they were amazing for what they did for me."

He particularly praised his nurse, Debbie, saying: "I so appreciated their calmness and professionalism. My nurse was a lady called Debbie and she was matter-of-fact but caring as well, which is what I needed because any time I was feeling a bit down, she was getting me out of that funk and encouraging me to focus on the positive stuff."

After being discharged from the colorectal nurse's care in June 2023, Rob reflected on the importance of having a support system. He credited his husband, Sam, for being a rock throughout his illness, recalling: "I had been with Sam for maybe about a year or so and then I got ill. Sam drove me to hospital appointments and nursed me through the illness. We got married six months ago. It's good to have somebody there who supports you."

Rob emphasized the value of accepting help from loved ones, saying: "If you've got somebody there that's willing to help and look after you, whether that's a family member or a partner or friends: take that help. When going through times like that, those people come into the fore and show how important and great they can be."

He concluded by encouraging others to utilize all available resources, including healthcare professionals, friends, and family, noting: "Make use of everything and everybody that's about, whether that's GPs, friends, family, NHS. After going through my struggles, I've had a few mates who have spoken to me about their mental and physical health as well. Because I've been open about my illness, it's encouraged them to speak out. Asking for support is not a weakness, it's a strength.

"My story shows that cancer can affect anyone no matter how active you are, and you should never put off getting checked if you feel that something isn't right. Thanks to the brilliant care I received from the NHS, I am now cancer-free and able to do the things I love like playing football and spending time with my partner, family, and friends. Remember, you know your body best, so pay attention to any warning signs and get checked as soon as possible if you're concerned."

NHS England's 'Help Us Help You' campaign urges individuals who have experienced persistent discomfort, bloating, or spotting blood in their urine to consult with their doctor as it might signify cancer.