“I never would have associated my breathlessness as a symptom of advanced bowel cancer.”
Royal Marsden patient Ben is passionate about raising awareness of bowel cancer and speaks of the importance of research in giving him more time with his loved ones.
“I was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer on my 39th birthday in 2019. I’d been training for a charity triathlon and was riding my bike along the beach in Bournemouth. I’ve always been a keen sportsman, but I kept getting out of breath during my cycle. I just thought I was a bit unfit at the time.”
“A few weeks later, I was at a football match and collapsed in the crowd – I ended up being taken to hospital. They thought initially that I had a stomach ulcer, and I was sent for more tests. Two weeks after having a colonoscopy, I got the news that it was bowel cancer. I had no other symptoms except being a bit breathless, I couldn’t believe it.”
“I wasn’t completely naïve to cancer, people in my family had been through it before, but I never would have associated my breathlessness as a symptom of advanced bowel cancer. I had an operation within two weeks at my local hospital. I then had six months preventative chemotherapy treatment. At my one-year scan in October 2020, it showed progression and I was then diagnosed with secondary peritoneal cancer. I was told that nobody could help me after these results.”
74 rounds of treatment at The Royal Marsden
“In November 2020 I came to The Royal Marsden in Chelsea for the first time to see Professor Ian Chau. He was absolutely fantastic right from the start and is still my oncologist today. He puts me at ease with every conversation we have.”
We’re all looking for more time so we can have more experiences and spend time with our loved ones – this is the most important thing.
“Prof Chau epitomises how The Royal Marsden stands out from other hospitals. His delivery and positivity are second to none. Everyone in the hospital is so supportive and optimistic for you, despite what you’re going through. We’re all looking for more time so we can have more experiences and spend time with our loved ones – this is the most important thing.”
“Since November 2020, I’ve had around 74 rounds of treatment, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and I even went on a clinical trial. Every time one treatment stopped working, we have tried something else.”
Ben’s current treatment and wedding bells!
Ben has more recently had a liquid biopsy test in Sutton. A liquid biopsy can detect tiny amounts of cancer in the blood (circulating tumour DNA, or ctDNA), which may give clinicians important information to personalise cancer treatment.
“What this test will hopefully show is the current mutations in my cancer which will enable my clinical teams to assess whether I can benefit from having any of the previous treatments I’ve been on. Although these treatments stopped working at the time, they may now work again against the new mutations to kill the cancer.”
Thanks to the amazing work of charities like The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, there are constant advances in research which are helping people like me to live for longer.
“Research is so important; it’s about always trying to find the next thing. Thanks to the amazing work of charities like The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, there are constant advances in research which are helping people like me to live for longer."
"This is why it’s good for as many people to get involved in fundraising for the Charity as possible – my godson and his mum recently took part in the Jog 40 Miles in January challenge.”
“From a treatment perspective, I’m not asking for a miracle, all I’m asking for is an opportunity – for more time.
Thanks to The Royal Marsden’s support, I got married in 2023! We put it off for ages because of my situation but we decided to do it and we ended up inviting some of the other patients that we’ve met over the years at The Royal Marsden. These are all people I’ve had treatment alongside in the Medical Day Unit.”
Raising awareness of bowel cancer
“I still think there is a taboo around cancer, it’s so important to keep breaking those barriers. The worst thing to do is to suffer in silence, there are so many people that might not have the opportunity to talk to others about what they’re going through.”
“As a young cancer patient, I’d say early detection is absolutely key. Statistically we know, if things are caught at an early stage, it can be treated. If things don’t feel right, you absolutely need to get it checked. With me, I had no typical bowel cancer symptoms. This is why I’m very transparent in wanting to share my story and I’m a huge supporter of what everyone has helped me achieve at the hospital. I share updates about my cancer journey on Instagram and think, if it can help one person – then it’s done some good.”
Donate today to help The Royal Marsden continue to provide world-leading patient care for patients like Ben.
Read more inspiring stories on our blog