After our cancer has been treated we go into monitoring with scans and blood tests. One of the things that can feel baffling is if the scan shows something suspicious we may be told we have to wait for the next scan before a treatment decision is made. In medicine this is called “WATCH AND...

I’M STILL HERE! Eleven years ago today I was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal (bowel) cancer. It was totally unexpected and my world changed completely in a 10 minute conversation. I’ve been through a lot since then – multiple surgeries and over 180 cycles of chemo, but that’s not my cancer story. In those 11...

I often hear people of moving onto their second or third line cancer treatment being told there’s a “low chance of success”. I can understand why the doctor thinks this but it seems to be the wrong approach and mindset to these treatments. As we go through the lines of treatment the reported efficacy decreases,...

So many things can affect how we feel about our diagnosis and how we approach treatment, both positively and negatively. In cancer care that seems to be so much more important, as well as all the facts and stats that we have to deal with, there are so many myths and misconceptions. Add to this...

Today is a milestone that seemed impossible at diagnosis – 10 years with stage 4 cancer! I’m so grateful to my medical & surgical teams, my friends & family and the fab cancer community for getting me here. My FIRST decade of striving and thriving, I’m calling it #TENacity! It’s a good opportunity to highlight...

​ In 2013 I was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer and have been on long term ’maintenance’ chemo since 2014. I’ve had clear scans (No Evidence of Disease) for over 18 months now, so it’s not unreasonable for people to ask if I’m cured.​ However, it’s not easy to answer. The best way to see if I still...

This was written for Bowel Cancer Intelligence UK, which supports two major cancer initiatives – The UK Colorectal Cancer Intelligence Hub (CRUK), and the Yorkshire Bowel Cancer Improvement Programme (Yorkshire Cancer Research) I was diagnosed with advanced (stage 4) colorectal cancer in May 2013, when the disease had already spread to my liver and both...

eCRUSADers (early career researchers using Scottish administrative data) provides a space to share information and experiences, to encourage discussion and improve the use of Scottish administrative data in research Foreword By Dr Elizabeth Lemmon: I’m thrilled to have Mr Steve Clark contributing this post to the eCRUSADers People Make Data series.  Steve has a wealth of...

8 years ago today I went into hospital to get the results of tests to find out why I was going to the loo a lot. In a matter of minutes I went from a healthy bloke who was super fit to being someone with stage 4 colorectal cancer. ​ I still remember how devastated I was to...

In 2021 I carried out a survey on Facebook, Twitter and the Bowel Cancer UK online forum, asking which bowel preparation people prefer ahead of colonoscopies.​ Most respondents were from the UK​ There was a clear preference from most respondents for Picolax (69%)​ It should be noted that 31% stated they could not take or had problems taking Moviprep​ Conclusion – patients with...