Barry’s story

“It started as any other year, that was until things got real.

And as far as it’s my story it’s really our story, the ours includes the hero, my loving wife, our daughter, son in law, grandson, two inherited grandsons, sister, brother-in-law, sisters- in-law, nieces, nephews, neighbours, friends and some special new additions, the three surgeons and our GP, Oncology Nurse and of course the amazing Nurses and staff on Ward 10 Nelson Hospital to whom I will always be eternally grateful.

Now let’s get back to the story.

My wife and I used to go walking a lot during the first Covid lockdown and this progressed well into 2021. But it became apparent, in early 2022 I wasn’t capable of walking as far as I was used to. Distances got shorter and shorter and I started to run out of breath. I could ride my motorcycle so I could not see a problem. On a couple of occasions fishing trips were cut back in time because I didn’t feel very well, this was all very new and strange.

My breathing got so bad I struggled to walk down the drive and back, and our drive although 55 metres long, is not steep. It ended up bad enough that I was struggling to get up the steps at the back door, only two of them.

Being the hero, my loving wife booked me in for a service with our GP.

Our new Dr after the last one retired, was very diligent, to the point of when I was asked to hop on a bed so she could check my stomach it was pants down bend over. I didn’t see that coming but it’s out of the way now. I was then sent for a full blood test which showed I had an iron deficiency and anemia. Back to the Doctors for an iron infusion. Our GP wasn’t happy with the iron levels and booked me in for a Colonoscopy. Although there were no outward signs and I had been tested only 18 months earlier, it was worth a shot as anemia is one of the signs of bowel cancer.

The colonoscopy showed a tumor, and when the Gastroenterologist came and spoke to us about the result, our lives, my wife’s and mine, changed instantly and forever. This is when the pace really picked up. A sample had been taken for testing but instead of waiting two weeks for results as he was so sure it was cancer, he booked me in with the surgical team.

It was after a consultation with Surgeons, I was then sent for a CT scan to find out if there was any spread to outside the bowel. CT scan complete, more blood tests and back to hospital for a two-unit blood transfusion followed by another iron infusion, a very long 10 hours. This was to boost me up pre-surgery later that week.

Time span, Monday – Blood transfusion, Tuesday – consult with GP, Wednesday a clear day to pack and prepare, Thursday – surgery. They removed the stage 2 tumour, 16 lymph nodes and 60cm of bowel.

2.5 hours in Surgery and 5.5 hours in recovery. Now it’s up to the Ward 10 Nurses and staff to take over our care. I cannot speak highly enough of the Nurses, from the gentle touch and approach with words of encouragement, they know you are currently going through the worst ever part of your life and are there to help. They will do everything from bringing you an ice block to cleaning up after a spate of three bowel incontinences over a three-hour period. I’ve never had so many females encouraging me to fart, they are, everyone one of them, amazing.

The Surgical team would call in daily with words of encouragement and just to make sure you are OK. This is very reassuring.

My Wife and our daughter who came down from Auckland, took turns coming to visit, and it was on day six Dr Sam gave us the words we were praying to hear. After extensive testing there was no sign of cancer spread, all the lymph nodes are cancer free and although I have been given the all clear, I will always need continual monitoring.

Then it was home to recuperate with our delightful two-year-old Grandson and family and we had to get on with our changed lives.

The colonoscopy which found the tumor was March 18 and the surgery to remove it on April 7, so despite Covid, the response by the medical team and hospital was incredibly quick for which we are immensely grateful.

The doctors have also advised the blood thinners I have taken for years to lower my stroke risk were probably behind the promotion and recognition of my symptoms. Without the Dabigatran I may have realised too late that the tumor was behind the constant blood loss which in turn caused the anemia. There was no sign in my stool, a symptom we were aware to look for but never showed.

If you are ever in the position I found myself in, please do something about it.

I now have three monthly blood tests, a yearly CT scan and Colonoscopy.

Two years and everything is looking good for me so far.

Someone with a camera up your bum may very well save your life, putting your head in the sand won’t do anything.

Please, if there is anything you notice when going to the toilet or symptoms like I had please get looked at. I see a lot of young women on this Facebook page sharing their experiences but not many men. I found talking about my cancer helped me. I would like to encourage men to get checked if they suspect something is wrong. A Colonoscopy isn’t too bad, the alternative is so much worse. Photo at their 50th wedding ann”