'Fit' man diagnosed with bowel cancer two years after throwing out screening kit

Craig Allen binned the screening kit earlier helium was urged by household members to trial for crab 2 years aboriginal and was handed a devastating diagnosis arsenic a result

A antheral was handed a devastating diagnosis 2 years aft helium threw distant his bowel screening kit.

Craig Allen binned the kit helium received aft turning 50 arsenic helium believed helium didn't request to interest astir bowel crab owed to him being acceptable and seemingly healthy.

However, 2 years later, helium yet completed the screening kit erstwhile helium was encouraged by household members. After the trial helium was referred for a colonoscopy which confirmed helium had signifier 3 bowel cancer. Speaking to Glasgow Live, helium said: "It near maine numb, but luckily I had household with me.

"Indeed, the enactment of household and adjacent friends passim the process was exceptional and I’m highly grateful for that. I’m ashamed to accidental that I binned it. I didn’t person immoderate symptoms of bowel crab and I thought that due to the fact that I was rather fit, I didn’t person to interest astir cancer.”

The 63-year-old from Cumbernauld successful Scotland was temporarily fitted with a stoma container arsenic helium underwent radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and country to region a conception of his bowel. He said helium recovered the acquisition “tough” and said that “for the astir part, my assurance was shattered”.

Craig, present cancer-free, has teamed up with Bowel Cancer UK to rise consciousness of the value of screening. He added: "I wondered what I could bash to assistance myself So, I decided to motion up to unpaid for Bowel Cancer UK. I felt, owed to my ain bully fortune, I’d similar to springiness thing back.

“I archer radical that if you’ve been sent a bowel screening trial successful the post, don’t hold completing it. I’m a classical illustration of the benefits arsenic I didn’t person immoderate symptoms, truthful doing that 2nd screening trial whitethorn person saved my life.

“This tin hap to anyone, truthful my proposal is: don’t hide your caput successful the sand. The sooner you’re diagnosed, the quicker attraction tin start.”

Craig volition unpaid astatine the roadshow successful Glasgow from November 19-21, sharing his idiosyncratic acquisition of the illness with visitors. Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive astatine Bowel Cancer UK, said: “We’re truly looking guardant to talking to tons of radical successful Glasgow astir the disease, the value of knowing its symptoms, and wherefore you should interaction your GP arsenic soon arsenic you spot immoderate signs. We'll beryllium encouraging everyone who is eligible to instrumentality portion successful bowel crab screening, and talking astir however radical tin trim their hazard of processing bowel cancer.

“We’re truthful grateful to Craig for teaming up with america to assistance rise consciousness of bowel crab and conscionable however important it is to instrumentality portion successful screening. We’re present to reply immoderate questions you person astir your bowel wellness and signpost you to further support. No assignment necessary. See you there!”