I’d just got posted back to Wiltshire after an overseas' tour when I was diagnosed with bowel cancer, by Helen Chave and her team at Salisbury District Hospital. I was in my late 30s and had been ill for some time but no-one up to then had diagnosed that I was suffering with cancer.
I had a gastroscopy, colonoscopies, blood tests, and a CT Scan. The determination of the tumour was done by colonoscopy. I was told, there and then, at the colonoscopy that I had a tumour that looked like cancer. The medical team then needed to have a meeting, book the CT Scan, and decide what to do. So that was a period of mixed emotions.
While I was waiting for the CT Scan I placed myself into the capable hands of SDH, but it was a time punctuated by thoughts of how serious this was and fear for my immediate and long-term future. I got very emotional because I had a three-year-old daughter – the thing that hit me like a brick wall was the thought that I might not see my daughter get married. That period of waiting for the results was a real emotional rollercoaster.
Happily in my case, I got a relatively quick CT Scan. It showed there was no spread of the cancer, it was just one tumour that could be dealt with surgically. So that was superb news.
The surgery was performed and despite some complications, the tumour was removed. My fears were greatly reduced based on the CT Scan’s confirmation that there was no spread.
With repeat CT scans and colonoscopies, Helen and her team have shown that the surgery was successful and the cancer hasn’t spread.
I got a medical discharge from the Army and now I’m moving into a second career.
I’m supporting the CT Scanner Campaign because Helen saved my life. This is one small way I can thank her. The benefit of two scanners for Salisbury District Hospital is that more people like me will be able to receive the life-saving care that I enjoyed. Anything that can reduce the delay between hearing you have cancer and knowing the precise details of how far progressed it is, the better for the patients.