I remember getting the phone call at work one Friday to tell me; that was pretty horrible.
45 stories for 45 years. Throughout 2026, we’re sharing the stories of our clients, volunteers and staff who make the Wessex Cancer Support community what it is.
Through our community’s lived experience of cancer, we can provide our clients with the tailored support they need.
In this article, Marcus, a client of our Isle of Wight Centre (pictured with his dog, Sweep) shares his experience..
I’d had my suspicions. There had been some typical warning signs that you often get with bowel cancer so receiving my diagnosis wasn’t exactly a shock. It helped that the consultant said straight away that it was curable: “We’re 99% certain this is cancer but we can sort it out.” That definitely helped.
That was three years ago now. I’m a typical man – I hated going to the Doctor – so it was quite good for me to actually go when I had symptoms. Fortunately, the cancer was still contained but it was quite large so they decided to give me a course of chemotherapy to shrink it before they would operate.
I remember getting the phone call at work one Friday to tell me; that was pretty horrible.
I pushed to start chemo’ as soon as possible – a combination of chemotherapy drugs fortnightly for three months. Like many people on chemo, I really suffered with some side effects, particularly in cold weather – and drinking an iced coffee felt like shards of needles hitting my tongue. Unfortunately, it turns out I have a rare enzyme which means I couldn’t assimilate the chemo very well. It left me with some neuropathy in my feet and fingers and all that treatment hadn’t touched the cancer. Discovering that was a real low point.
As the chemo hadn’t worked, they wanted to give me some radiotherapy next but the consultant wanted more tests first. I hadn’t realised how long decisions can take sometimes and the waiting for all of this did get me down at times.
Eventually, however, the decision was taken to do the operation. I was called in on Bank Holiday Monday May 2024, along with all the medical team, and they did it. The operation went well and I was beginning to recover. There were some complications so I needed a second operation in July 2025. I also have diabetes so the decision was made to give me a permanent colostomy stoma, which would mean I could eat more healthily. Sadly, I got an infection so was in hospital for a month after the second operation, in all the hot weather! After four weeks, they were ready to discharge me but the paperwork was taking ages. In the end, I got frustrated and rang the local District Nurse to arrange everything myself. It was horrendous but I got home through sheer strength of will!
At the beginning of this year, during a check-up, they found a lesion on my liver, which turned out to be two small cancerous tumours. For my third operation, I was sent to a third hospital (I’m getting quite familiar with hospital procedures!). It went well; the consultant said he took both tumours and my gall bladder “to save the chance of having to go in again” so he’s happy and I’m just on six-monthly check-ups now.
The consultant thinks I’m a hero for having gone through everything I have done and remained so positive, but I’m still just me.
I’m back home on the Island again, with my lovely Mum helping to keep an eye on me (she’s a great cook) and the dog for company. I’ve managed to go back to work. I trained as a welder/fabricator (on a YTS years ago) so I work mornings in a boat yard. It’s quite a small community here, so people know me and there is no tiptoeing about – they speak plainly, which is a relief sometimes. My current bosses are great, too, and nothing is a problem for them.
Wessex Cancer Support have been brilliant, like a shoulder to cry on when we needed it; they understand what we’ve been through. They helped me but they also really helped my Mum. She didn’t have many people to turn to so Wessex have been there for her. I think Mum’s changed, too; she’s much more assertive now. She tended to be a bit of a people pleaser before we’ve both learnt that you have to take ownership of your own cancer journey and medication, and sometimes that means keeping asking questions until you get an answer. Now she’s much more focussed on caring and much less tolerant of fools!
Of course, cancer has changed me too. I hoped that I’d get back to ‘normal’ but – only a few months from my last operation – I’m not there yet. But I am definitely more relaxed about work now. I’m in a beautiful part of the Island, and on days well I felt down or when I couldn’t drive, I’d walk round to Sandown beach. That big, calm, open sea view was really uplifting and I’m looking at roles that will embrace that feeling.
Watch this space, of course, but I want something that I can drive round and maybe take the dog with me. Something more easy-going and enjoyable, to enjoy the sunshine.
I’ve heard other people being anxious so I’m happy to share my experience because I think, the more positive stories you hear, the better. People love to share horror stories but it can send you down a dark rabbit hole. We can’t all have the same cancer care as the King but I’m just Marcus; I’m still here, still battling on, still smiling, it’s still get-over-able.
So, enjoy your life as much as you can and appreciate any good friends and family you’ve got around you. (And, by the way, I was a very shy man before all this started but now I don’t care; just get on and do it!)
Our community provides a safe, supportive space for people affected by cancer. Through our emotional and wellbeing services, we provide the support to our communities in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
We’ve been here for you since 1981.
You can call or email your local cancer support centre today, or drop in to speak to our friendly team.
And if you would like to learn more about volunteering and becoming part of #TeamWessex, you can see more about becoming a volunteer here.
