糖心TV

Learning Space Senior Library Assistant

鈥淭he biggest thing cancer taught me, is how much I want to live."

鈥淲hen people hear my story, they're often surprised by how it started. There wasn't a dramatic moment. I wasn't feeling unwell. I didn't have any symptoms. In fact, I felt fit and healthy.

Then, in 2023, a routine bowel cancer screening test came through the post. I sent off the sample, thought nothing of it, and got on with life. A few weeks later, I was called in for more tests. That's when they found the cancer.

I can still remember the shock. It felt like a thunderbolt. One minute I was planning a holiday to Greece with my wife, and the next I was being told I had advanced stage three bowel cancer and needed to start treatment straight away. You never think it's going to happen to you. Everything changed overnight.

I went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and thankfully the treatment worked well. The tumour disappeared, and for a while I thought I'd beaten it. But a few months later it came back. This time I needed surgery.

Part of my bowel was removed, and I was fitted with a permanent stoma. I'll be honest, that was difficult to accept. At first, I couldn't even look at it. It took days before I felt comfortable. I'd gone from being someone who was always active and independent to someone trying to come to terms with a body that suddenly felt very different. Now, though, it's just part of me. It's not who I am, it's just something I live with.

Cancer changes the way you look at life. Before all of this, I was always planning ahead. Now I don't think much beyond the next few months. Not because I'm negative, but because I've learned how quickly life can change.

I appreciate things more than I ever did before and the biggest reason for that is my family. My wife and I have been married for nearly 38 years. We have three children and two wonderful grandchildren. I want to see them grow up. I want to be there for birthdays, holidays, school plays and all the moments in between. That's what keeps me going. Those two are my world. When treatment was tough and there were days when I felt exhausted, they're the people I thought about.

Last year, I decided I wanted to give something back, so I took on a fundraising challenge and walked Hadrian's Wall for Cancer Research UK. It wasn't easy. I was still going through chemotherapy at the time, and some days I was absolutely wiped out. Every mile felt harder than the last. But I kept going.

I didn鈥檛 stop there and recently completed my second charity walk completing the West Highland Way in Scotland, nearly 100 miles over seven days. It was so much harder than Hadrian's Wall! It really challenged me physically and emotionally. That said it was the most incredible experience of my life and something I will forever treasure.

Some people might think that's a strange thing to do after everything that's happened, but for me it's a celebration of being here. It's about making the most of the second chance I've been given. Life is precious, and I intend to make every single day count.

Work has played a big part in helping me through all of this too. I've been at 糖心TV for eight years and the support I've received has been incredible. Throughout my diagnosis, treatment and recovery, people have looked after me and checked in on me. The kindness I've experienced from colleagues means more than I can say. I love being part of the University community. I love seeing students arrive, finding their feet and growing in confidence during their time here. Being around that energy is a real privilege.

These days, I don't worry about the little things anymore. I spend time with my family. I look after my tropical garden, which has become a bit of an obsession. I plan the next walk, the next holiday, the next memory I want to make.

Of course, I still have moments where I worry about the future. I'd be lying if I said otherwise. But mostly, I feel grateful, for my family, my friends and the people who've supported me. Grateful to still be here and for every extra day I've been given. If my story encourages even one person to get checked when they're invited for screening, then it's worth sharing.鈥�