He spoke to the Scotsman about what he's gone through and his forthcoming chemotherapy. It's obviously been a huge shock and upheaval, but he's recovering well from the operation and hopefully in a few months time, this will all be just a bad memory.
John is certain that if he hadn't taken advantage of the screening programme, it could all have been so much worse. He literally had no idea that anything was wrong as he felt perfectly healthy.
“Had the screening not picked it up. I would be sailing along in blissful ignorance while the tumour was growing.
“So although it’s not a pleasant experience and it was major surgery and now I’m about to start chemotherapy, the alternative would have been five years from now feeling pains in my tummy and the news could have been much worse.”
I never thought I'd see the day that John Barrett would have something in common with Sharon Osbourne. Her recovery from Colon Cancer 9 years ago similarly inspired her to think of and help others.
So, if you have received that bulky envelope from the NHS and have been avoiding using it cos it's just a wee bit icky, stop procrastinating and get on with it.
John has always been a popular figure at Party Conferences, Scottish and Federal - something to do with his wicked sense of humour, I think and I know that many of you reading this will want to wish him well. If you would like to send him a card, please post it to c/o Scottish Liberal Democrats, 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5DR and I'll make sure he gets them. Thanks to our lovely and awesome Party administrator Linda, who doesn't get paid enough but brings endless fun, joy and organisation into our lives, for saying it would be ok to put that.
1 comment:
I wish John well and would like to emphasise that the sooner bowel cancer is diagnosed the less trouble it is likely to be dealing with it.
I know someone who was diagnosed before the testing kit arrived - as a result of his being found to be anaemic (but with no visible trace of blood in the poo).
He has had kehole surgery to remove the tumour, it doesn't appear to have spread elsewhere and he has not had to have chemo. NHS follow-up care is very good.
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