Walsall cancer survivor’s ‘get tested’ message
Lynne Ewington was diagnosed with colorectal cancer
When Lynne Ewington was given the dreaded news she had colorectal cancer, she feared she would never be able to do the things she loved again.
The 62-year-old from Walsall thought having to wear a stoma bag would signal an end for her running, cycling and going to concerts.
But three years after surgery and just weeks after being treated for a separate, second primary cancer diagnosis, Lynne is using her experiences to encourage people to get tested early.
She shared her story at a Bowel Cancer Awareness Event was held at the Hive Community Hub in Willenhall on Wednesday (April 29), which was attended by medics, cancer survivors and the West Midlands Cancer Alliance.
Consultants who spoke at the meeting revealed many people were being presented to Walsall Manor Hospital as emergencies with the cancer being in the latter stages, significantly reducing their chances of survival.
Lynne said: “I had a massive bleed and thought ‘this isn’t good and I need to get to hospital’.
“We don’t live far from the Manor so I phoned my partner and said ‘you need to come and pick me up and take me to A&E’.
“I got there and Dr Muhammed Tayyub was luckily on duty. He took me to surgery and did a repair at that point but that found the cancer. The tumour that ruptured was actually a cancer.
“I had all the other tests then done and that showed the second polyps that had to be removed which is how I ended up with a permanent stoma.
“I had everything removed, stitched up at the back and now everything just comes out through the bag.”
Lynne didn’t experience any of the usual symptoms before she ended up in Walsall Manor Hospital in 2023.
She said: “What I was doing is getting up in the night more and I was just thinking, it’s just age. I was 59 at the time.
“But I was one of the rare victims who ended up in A&E but had not had the symptoms before.
“I had the emergency operation in May 2023 and I had the major surgery in November 2023.
“When they found the second cyst on the ovary I had to have a few more tests but that came back benign.
“When I found out, it’s not the news you want to hear. But the thought of it is far worse than the reality. Once you’ve got over that, they know what they are doing.
“I had total trust in the team and amazing support afterwards. It’s not the death sentence it used to be.
“Now, three years down the line, all the tests have been clear ever since and living life with what I call the ‘Little Volcano’. When it starts erupting, it can erupt!
“Mine is a colostomy which comes off the small bowel. But we still live. I run, cycle, row – there is a really good recovery programme that I was given that started day two after the operation.
“It starts you off for the first eight weeks, then 8-12 weeks and then a six month programme. I followed that and got back to running and cycling.
“I’m also back out to concerts. Initially getting used to it, I thought I’d have a seat as I didn’t know if I’d be ok standing for several hours but now I’m right in the middle of it.”
She added: “I’ve just gone through a second cancer diagnosis. I found a lump in March and that was like ‘oh my god’ but I found out it’s a totally new primary one.
“I had the operation in mid-March and I’m now back out. Going early and getting over that fear. The time of going from the doctors to surgery was five or six weeks.
“The sooner people get tested, the better. If you get it, it’s less invasive, they can treat it with a colonoscopy. It’s getting over the fear of doing the test in the first place.”