Bowel Cancer Awareness Month — Nav Johal’s story of survival
April is #BowelCancerAwarenessMonth. Every 15 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with bowel cancer, but finding it early makes it more treatable.
Football-loving Nav Johal was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February 2019. Here she shares her experience.
Hello, I’m Nav and I was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer in February 2019.
I first noticed that something wasn’t right with my health around spring of 2018, I was bleeding a little when going to the toilet. I ignored this as didn’t think it could be anything serious and over the months the bleeding would come and go. Then the bleeding became a regular occurrence when emptying my bowels. The frequency of going to the toilet also increased and my twin sister encouraged me to go to the GP. I was sent for a non-urgent colonoscopy so this took a couple of months and during this time I started to lose weight and my symptoms were getting worse. I was still active and continued to exercise, play football and go running.
During the colonoscopy, a 10cm tumour was found in my rectum and two polyps further up in my colon. After CT scans, MRIs, a PET scan and some tests, in March 2019 I had two operations and stayed in hospital for 10 days. The tumour and polyps were removed and I welcomed into my life a temporary stoma, called an ileostomy. When my test results came back I was told the cancer was stage 2 and therefore did not require any chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
I learnt to live my life with a stoma, which was meant to be with me for around 6 months, but due to the lower part of my colon not being used it required some dilations. I had 4 dilations over a 6 month period and was ready for the stoma reversal, but Covid delayed things for over a year.
Although it wasn’t easy at first learning to live with a stoma it was something that I adapted to and was able to work, exercise and eventually eat pretty much anything I wanted to. And despite the misconception, I could eat spicy food with a stoma!
I had a stoma reversal in May 2021 and now go to the toilet in the ‘normal’ way. It took a while for my colon to wake up and I was in hospital for 12 days. It took around 9 days before I had any bowel movements. It hasn’t been easy for the lower part of my colon to learn its new job, and in the beginning I had issues with control and then not being able to fully empty my bowels. I had another dilation to help with my bowel function and now I have good control but still struggle with fully emptying my bowels. I knew there was a high chance that a reversal would not be 100% successful and things are manageable for me. I irrigate daily which has helped me considerably with my bowel function.
I have made a decision with my consultant at West Middlesex Hospital that I would like to go back to a stoma. I want to get back to a good quality of life and it’s been almost a year since the reversal I feel like I’ve given it enough time to see if things work for the lifestyle that I want and need.
Whatever happens, I’m in safe hands with my oncology team at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust. They have been with me every step of the way during the most difficult period in my life. They saved my life.
I am forever grateful to the NHS for the support and time they have taken to talk to me through everything, including treatment options available. They have treated me like a person and understand it’s not a one-size-fits-all model.
Bowel cancer is one of the most survivable cancers if caught early, so make sure you know the signs and symptoms, and contact your GP if you have any concerns.
Signs and symptoms:
- Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo
- A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
- A pain or lump in your tummy
