Jules’s story

I was about to head overseas for work in Africa when I did my standard pre-health check when it was discovered I had very low iron levels. After some questioning from my GP, I did the Bowel Cancer stool test and it was positive with traces of blood. Two Colonoscopies revealed two polyps were cancerous and needed to be removed. Unfortunately due to the location of them I had to lose my large intestine and rectum and now have a permanent Colostomy Bag / Illeostomy.

My advice for others:

Keep on top of the Stoma and health. Following the advice from the Surgeon and Stoma Nurse of the safe foods and drink; the Stoma doesn’t discriminate and it can spoil the party when something eaten isn’t right.

Also, wearing a harness to prevent a parastomal hernia does help to prevent any ongoing pain and let you enjoy life as comfortable and freely as possible . Making contact with social groups with fellow Ostomates is a great way of being of help to others when things aren’t going so good and you know there is someone you can speak to.