Overview

• Rob McPherson initially mistook bowel cancer symptoms like bloating and cramps for food intolerances, delaying his diagnosis.
• After worsening symptoms, an ambulance visit led to the discovery of a 7cm tumour, requiring urgent surgery and intensive treatment.
• McPherson underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a stoma placement before achieving full remission and being discharged from specialist care in 2023.
• NHS England’s ‘Help Us Help You’ campaign emphasizes the importance of seeking medical advice for persistent digestive symptoms lasting three weeks or more.
• Rising bowel cancer rates among under-50s and societal pressures to ‘tough it out’ are driving calls for greater public awareness and early detection.