Hollyoaks hunk Ben Richards reveals he thought his bowel cancer ‘was just a reaction to spicy food’
The actor is celebrating being four years clear of the disease
BEN Richards has revealed he initially thought his bowel cancer was just due to the spicy food he had eaten while in India.
The Hollyoaks star is now celebrating being clear of the disease for four years but admitted he first brushed it off as nothing more than an upset stomach.
Speaking to the Mirror, he said: “It was January 2012 and two months earlier, I’d been filming a TV series out in India when I started to notice a few changes in my bowel movements. I was passing a small amount of blood when I went to the toilet – a clear symptom of bowel cancer.
Yet being a typical bloke, I self-diagnosed. I was convinced it was due to the spicy food I’d been eating in India. Besides, I was pretty healthy. I was in good shape and looked after myself.”
He admitted he carried on ignoring the symptoms until he was due to fly to America for work and his then-wife Helen urged him to go and see a doctor just to make sure all was well.
He said: “I wanted to do anything other than see that doctor, especially to have an examination that would be embarrassing, but I booked in to put both our minds at rest.”
Ben, 44, was told by his doctor that he needed to see a specialist as soon as possible and a week later a 6cm-long tumour was discovered in his bowel.
Ben underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, surgery and then a further operation following complications just weeks before embarking on a national theatre tour, performing in up to nine shows a week.
He said: “It took it out of me but I got through an audition for a stage show, 9-5, and I landed it. I remember so clearly telling the director, ‘Just so you know, I’ve got cancer, but don’t panic, I’m not dying. I’ve worked out I’ll be fine by the time I start’. You should have seen their faces.”
He is now clear of the disease and speaking on This Morning recently, he said: “I’m now four years clear which I’m really chuffed about. Next year is the big mile stone, five years. That’s the big stepping stone.
It means you’re pretty much… that’s the big one where you’re pretty much clear. I’m feeling super fit and health and I go the gym regularly.”
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