A father who rejected his rapid weight loss by working too hard and not eating properly was diagnosed with cancer that was spreading throughout his body.
Rob Gore, 40, ignored symptoms, including bleeding, when he went to the bathroom until his wife, Kirsty, persuaded him to see his GP.
The Warrington Supply Chain Logistics Manager said: “By the time I was diagnosed, I had come to terms with the fact that it was something serious. I had bowel cancer and it spread, with nodules in my liver and lungs. ”
With nearly 43,000 people diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, it is the fourth most common cancer and the second biggest killer of cancer in the UK, according to the charity Bowel Cancer UK, reports Liverpool Echo.
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More than nine out of ten new cases are diagnosed in people over the age of 50 and are more common in men than women, but can affect anyone at any age.
Rob underwent six rounds of chemotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Center in Halton’s CanTreat ward, followed by treatment to stop the cancer from spreading. He still visits the Clatterbridge team to collect cancer drugs and receive regular scans and checkups.
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A scan a year ago found potential cancers called nodules in his lung that required six more rounds of chemotherapy. He later underwent lung ablation at Royal Liverpool Hospital. This non-surgical procedure uses heat to kill cancer cells, allowing them to treat a nodule they suspect is returning.
Three years after his diagnosis in March 2019, Rob is returning to full-time work after recently visiting London and Belfast with his family to celebrate his 40th birthday. He said: “My wife and children were brilliant. I have two stepchildren and a daughter, and they just went to Moel Famau in North Wales to raise money for a charity that helps children whose family members have cancer. They were really keen to give something back and I’m so proud of them.
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“We just make the most of everything we can – we try to get out there, do things and enjoy life. It was really nice to go back to work and see people, because I’m not one of those people who sat around. “
Rob shared his story about Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this April to encourage others not to ignore possible cancer symptoms. He said: “I always tell friends, family, everyone – if you have any signs, please go and see someone. It feels great when something in your body is wrong, but you don’t need to be afraid. Diagnosing cancer is not all about death and gloom. There is treatment available, so it’s always best to check the symptoms and either calm your mind or get the care you need. “
He added: “The care I had from the NHS was great – I can’t say enough about how amazing everyone was. I see my nurse Janet regularly. She is fantastic and I have a lot of confidence in the team. I just do things and live my life. “
Jeanette Ribton, a colotect nurse and consultant at The Clatterbridge Cancer Center NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Rob did the right thing by going to his GP when he noticed blood and lost weight without trying. People sometimes reject the early signs of bowel cancer, either out of discomfort or the thought that it’s just a crooked stomach.
“If you have persistent changes in bowel habits lasting three weeks or more, blood in your stools or abdominal pain or bloating when you eat, ask your doctor for advice. It is also important to take part in a bowel cancer screening if you are invited to do so. “
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