‘I thought I just had haemorrhoids. The reality was something I could never have imagined’

A barrister who initially put his cancer symptoms down to haemorrhoids has revealed the first sign he knew something was wrong.

Sebastian Clegg was diagnosed with bowel cancer in April 2022 before learning it had spread to his lungs a year later. Sadly, the stage 4 condition is now inoperable.

The 55-year-old first started experiencing blood in his stool six months before his diagnosis but “didn’t think too much of it”.

READ MORE: ‘I was watching a film with my son, then in 20 minutes our lives changed forever’

The dad-of-three, who lived in Didsbury but recently moved to Northwich, says alarm bells started to ring when the blood turned heavy, prompting him to visit his GP.

During his appointment, Sebastian pushed for a colonoscopy, a procedure in which a doctor uses a flexible tube with a camera on one end to look inside the rectum and colon.

Tragically, the results showed the dad had a tumour in his lower bowel, later being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, according to latest research. Almost 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer here every year, with one in 17 men and one in 20 women being diagnosed during their lifetime.

Sebastian can recall the moment he was given the news. “I thought it was haemorrhoids,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “It didn’t occur to me I had bowel cancer.

“I was not a regular attender of the doctor. I’ve been once or twice in about 20 years. It was a huge shock; I had to tell me wife which was obviously difficult.”

Sebastian reached out to The Christie hospital and was placed on a radiotherapy course. He then underwent surgery to remove the rectum before being fitted with a stoma.

Sadly, as the cancer still remained, he then started his gruelling chemotherapy treatment.

In summer 2023, Sebastian had hoped to return to his job as a barrister. But his life would be flipped upside down once more when a scan revealed the cancer had spread to his lungs – making it stage 4.

“That was a real blow,” he added. “Because you’ve gone from thinking you’re going to be cured to being told you’re not going to be cured.”

While his condition is now inoperable, Sebastian says he is remaining positive with the help of The Christie staff, his wife Abigail and their three children Georgina, 23, Edward, 22 and Olivia, 19.

“At the moment, the chemotherapy is working,” he continued. “It’s best to stay hopeful. My oncologist doesn’t like looking too far ahead.

“It turned my life upside down. I have a very supportive family; my wife and kids are great.

“To start with, I didn’t want to tell anyone about it. I wanted to come to terms with it myself. I’m way beyond that now, it’s how I’m living.

“There are lots of positive sides to it. You meet a lot of fantastic people, particularly at The Christie.

“I get to spend more time with my family. You do the best you can – it’s not all doom and gloom. If you get cancer, don’t panic. I feel quite positive about things and I’m going on making the most of it. I’m enjoying life.”

Despite still undergoing his gruelling chemotherapy every two weeks, which is currently shrinking his tumours, Sebastian is set to take on the Altrincham 10k this Sunday (September 1) for The Christie Charity with daughter Olivia.

“It’s thanks to The Christie I am alive,” the dad added. “Everyone at The Christie is amazing. They are so kind and keep me in the best of spirits.

“Such is the warmth and care, a little bit of me actually looks forward to my chemotherapy appointments.”

Alicia Gaffey, mass participation events co-ordinator at The Christie Charity, says: “Taking on a 10k run is a challenge for anyone, but to do it while undergoing chemotherapy really is impressive.

“It takes a lot of courage and strength to cope with a cancer diagnosis, but to then focus your energies on training and fundraising while undergoing gruelling treatment is truly inspirational.

“We are very grateful to Sebastian and Olivia for their commitment and support.”

To donate to Sebastian’s fundraiser, follow the link by clicking here.

EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel