Bicycle accident led to early bowel cancer diagnosis

A bike accident led Tom Mann, a 72-year-old from Wigan, to discover he had bowel cancer. After breaking his collarbone and ribs, he developed a chest infection and began coughing up blood. An x-ray revealed a shadow on his lungs, prompting him to see a specialist. Instead of a lung issue, he was diagnosed with cancer. Tom underwent keyhole surgery and six months of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the cancer spread to his left lung, requiring surgery to remove part of it. Despite this, Tom continued his passion for running. He later experienced breathlessness, which was initially misdiagnosed as asthma. Further tests found a tumor blocking his airway. He received "debulking" surgery at Wythenshawe Hospital to remove part of the tumor and had brachytherapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchester. Tom was told the cancer had spread again during the pandemic, leading to the removal of one lung. Remarkably, he continues to run 20 miles weekly and frequent the gym. Tom hopes to be five years cancer-free by August after one more scan. His experience has inspired him to support cancer research funding. He emphasized the importance of advancements in treatment, thanks to organizations like Cancer Research UK. Their efforts have helped improve radiotherapy, making it more effective and less harmful to healthy tissue. Cancer Research UK has committed £67 million to develop improved radiotherapy techniques in the last six years. They aim to personalize treatments using new technologies like AI. A representative highlighted the ongoing need for research and funding to provide more effective cancer care. Tom’s story underscores the significant impact of research and the importance of donations in the fight against cancer.