Given two to three years to live, man with stage four bowel cancer campaigns for earlier diagnoses
Patrick Wymer from South Wales is using his experience of being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer to help raise awareness of the symptoms.
The 55-year-old form Penarth was diagnosed in June 2017 with the advanced cancer and given just two to three years to live.
Bowel Cancer UK have launched a new campaign for World Advanced Bowel Cancer Day on Friday 27 which centres on Patrick's story.
According to Bowel Cancer UK, every year around 42,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with the illness. About 10,000 of those are diagnosed at stage four of the cancer.
Stage four bowel cancer is advanced and means the cancer has spread to other areas of the body like the liver or lungs.
Before he was diagnosed, Patrick was exhibiting at least two of the symptoms of bowel cancer: weight loss and more frequent and looser bowel movements.
After medical examinations, numerous visits to A&E and a diagnosis of appendicitis - Patrick's cancer was eventually found after an operation.
Patrick has been left with a stoma and is still undergoing chemotherapy to treat the cancer.
He says the treatment "seems to be keeping the disease in check for now." but "the side effects are tough".
Dr Lisa Wilde, Director of Research and External Affairs at Bowel Cancer UK, says Patrick's story shows how important early diagnosis is.
What is bowel cancer?
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer. According to Bowel Cancer Uk, almost 42,000 people are diagnosed with it every year.
Early diagnosis gives the best chance of saving lives - nearly everyone survives if diagnosed at the earliest stage.
What are the Symptoms?
The Symptoms can include:
Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your faeces
An unexplained change in the amount of times you need the toilet
Unexplained weight loss
Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
A pain or lump in your stomach
However, most people with these symptoms do not have bowel cancer as other health problems can cause similar symptoms.