John’s story

I am a 46 year old man from Christchurch and in December 2022, my life took an unexpected turn when I started experiencing concerning symptoms: I had to rush to the bathroom in the mornings, noticed blood in my stools and felt persistent pain and pressure in my rectum. It was quite surprising as I had had a colonoscopy just 14 months earlier, so initially my doctor didn’t think it was anything serious. However after an MRI, PET and repeat colonoscopy, I received the tough news that I had stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma measuring 5.5cm. At the age of 45, the diagnosis left me in shock.

I can still vivdly remember the day of my diagnosis, sitting in the car with my partner, trying to grasp the seriousness of what the doctor had just told us. Fortunately, the treatment options were relatively straightforward. My surgeon explained that my type of cancer typically responds well to chemotherapy and radiation with a 90 to 95% success rate, and the chemo tablets as part of the Nigro protocol, turned out to be more manageable than I had feared. The treatment plan involved 6 weeks of radiation therapy, Monday to Friday, along with daily chemo tablets.

One of the most significant moments in my journey came when I completed my first radiation session. It felt like a huge burden had been lifted, allowing me to shift my focus towards healing and recovery. Throughout this challenging period, my partner and my family in Christchurch and Adelaide provided unwavering support and boundless love.

Cancer treatment comes with various side effects, each with its own set of challenges. While I fared relatively well compared to many, I wasn’t prepared for the lasting nature of some of these effects, like the morning urgency that still affected me five months later. It often fills me with anxiety, especially when leaving the house early in the morning, as I constantly worry about making it to the bathroom in time.

As I approach my five month follow up PET scan, the signs look positive, and I am filled with hope that I will receive the news that I am cancer-free. However, there is a lingering thought in the back of my mind that if the treatment didnt work, it could mean surgery and a permanent colostomy.

My sincere wish in sharing my story is to share my cancer journey, and to remind others that they are not alone and encourage open conversations about the challenges we face. Together, we can offer support and guidance to those on their own path to healing and recovery.

And men…..if you ever feel like something isnt right, don’t sit on it. Please just go to the doctor. It is better that these things are caught early.