‘A routine check-up saved my life’ (From York Press)

‘A routine check-up saved my life’

9:40am Monday 24th September 2012 in News By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

A CANCER survivor from York is urging others not to be afraid of going to the doctor after his life was saved when a routine check-up revealed he had the disease in his bowel.

Ron Grace, 64, of Dringhouses , has also thanked medical teams at York Hospital after recently been given the all-clear following major surgery to remove the cancer.

He said: “During the screening they found blood and I went for an MRI scan then a CT scan. After an internal examination the doctor suspected cancer.”

Following a positive diagnosis, Mr Grace was referred to a consultant who spelled out what needed to be done to beat the cancer.

“He went through the procedures,” said Mr Grace. “I said ‘what if I forget the whole lot? How long have I got left?’ but the wife gave me a kick and said ‘you are going along with this’.”

The procedure, which took place three weeks ago, involved removing a three-inch section of Mr Grace’s bowel.

After the surgery, Mr Grace began the long road to recovery.

“I’m a sports person and I’m fit for my age, but I was an invalid and relying on the nurses.” he said.

“They were like angels from heaven, but they aren’t soft touches. They want to get you back on your feet. They said ‘come on Mr Grace, you can do better than that’.”

He said: “They gave me the all- clear three weeks ago.

“You can’t be afraid of cancer. You shouldn’t embrace it but you shouldn’t be afraid of it.

“They caught mine early so thankfully I can go back to the life I had. I want to get the word out about the great work these people are doing right from the screening stage.”

For information on bowel cancer screening, go to nhs.uk/bowelcancer/Pages/bowel-cancer.aspx