I was so proud of my 4st weight loss – but it turned out to be bowel cancer
A DAD who shed an incredible four stone in just a year was shocked to discover his weight loss was actually bowel cancer.
Rob Allen, 42, decided to ditch junk food and adopt a healthier lifestyle after his wife, Angela, 44, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2017.
In just 12 months the dad-of-two went from 17 stone to 13 stone – yet Angela had only lost a stone in the same period, despite the couple eating identical meals.
But in June, Rob was rushed into hospital with a pain in his side and was horrified when doctors diagnosed him with stage three bowel cancer.
The call centre operator was even forced to delete proud photographs he had shared on Facebook showing off his weight loss after finding out the mass was cancerous.
Rob said: “When I think back, I did have symptoms.
Ange was impressed that I was losing so much weight but we couldn’t figure out why
Rob Allen
“When we started eating better, the weight dropped off me.
“I should have realised – it should have set alarm bells ringing.
“Ange was impressed that I was losing so much weight but we couldn’t figure out why.
“It’s just unlucky that the cancer was growing when I’d decided to change diet.”
Warning signs
Rob and Angela overhauled their meals by swapping processed junk like chips for healthy veg.
But after developing an ache in his side – which he thought was a pulled muscle – Rob visited his GP.
He was immediately transferred to the Countess of Chester Hospital where the cancer was discovered and he had an operation to remove the tumour and half of his large intestine.
Fewer than one in ten people survive bowel cancer if it's picked up at stage 4, but detected quickly, more than nine in ten patients will live five years or longer.
Early diagnosis is key, which is why The Sun launched the No Time 2 Lose campaign - to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease, to empower everyone to check themselves.
Doctors believe Rob's cancer may have started developing two years ago.
Rob, who shares two sons with Angela, Connor, 18, and Lucas, 13, and stepson, Zane, 22, said: “The symptoms had become really exacerbated – I became really tired and my bowel movements changed – but as it wasn’t constant I didn’t think.
“Then I got this ache in my side that wouldn’t go away. I thought I’d just pulled a muscle.
“When it got worse, Ange tried to make me go to A&E but I just said I’d go to the doctors in the morning.
“When they told me I had cancer, I was terrified at the thought I could die.
“I could see a picture on the wall in the hospital which had a list of bowel cancer symptoms and I had three of them.
“I sat behind my bedroom door so Ange couldn’t see and just bawled my eyes out.”
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Fortunately, after two rounds of chemotherapy, doctors have told Rob they’re confident he’ll pull through.
Now, he is speaking out to warn others to take notice of any symptoms they might have.
Rob said: “I really dodged a bullet, as the cancer was caught before it spread.
“After the operation, I had to have blood transfusions because I was anaemic.
“Then I had chemo three times per week, which violently disagreed with me.
“Lucas was confused as to why something that’s supposed to make me better was making me so sick, but chemo is just a mop up to make relapse less likely.
"Lucas hated coming to the hospital but he missed me. He would only come when he really needed a hug.
MORE ON BOWEL CANCER
“I feel sickly without wanting to be sick, extremely tired and I’m lucky if I’m awake most of the day.
“If you notice anything out of place just get it checked.
“Luckily, I’ve been given a second chance.”
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