Ian

As 2019 began, I was 63 and doing my usual swimming and cycling, but noticed I was getting more tired than usual and had pains in my legs when cycling up hills. Also, when I finished swimming, I felt very lightheaded. I put all this down to a slow recovery from Christmas. I was also feeling faint running up the stairs at home. My wife suggested I see the doctor. 

I happened to see my GP in February 2019 for my annual check-up and told her what had been going on. She said she would add some extra things to my annual routine blood test.

A week later my GP phoned me at home, said I was anaemic, and that she wanted to see me again as my haemoglobin (Hb) level was 85. Further referrals led me to have a colonoscopy. The doctor performing the test found a lump on my large colon and told me it was probably bowel cancer. 

After waiting two weeks for biopsy results, I was told it wasn’t bowel cancer, but diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a type of high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

Within a few weeks I went into hospital to have a third of my large bowel removed. It was a keyhole operation, and all went well. Chemotherapy started in August 2019.

Everybody must worry the minute the word ‘cancer’ is mentioned, and I was no different. I had a regime of R-CHOP chemotherapy and most of my hair fell out. 

After 6 sessions most of my blood readings had returned to something near normal. After finding the strength to get through the operation and the chemotherapy, I reflected on everything that had happened and felt that I had somehow dodged a bullet. I also went through quite an emotional time for a few weeks subsequent to the chemo ending. It’s funny, but when I was having chemo, I bought a piece of music that I would listen to on headphones while on the drip. I can’t listen to that album now and never will again.

In November 2024 I am 5 years free from treatment. Since my treatment ended, I have supported Lymphoma Action. I consider myself very fortunate and would advise everyone that if you see even small changes in your health, get them checked out as soon as possible.