'I ignored the signs': A former Brighouse councillor's battle against bowel cancer
FORMER Brighouse councillor Nick Yates has fought some tough political battles in his career but they're nothing compared to the personal struggle he has faced over the past year.
Twelve months ago he was diagnosed with bowel cancer and has since undergone a course of chemotherapy and two major operations. Now he has spoken out about his illness to raise awareness and make others aware of the need for early diagnosis.
"I have been lucky and responded well to treatment but if I had visited the doctor when the symptoms first arose the cancer probably would not have spread and I would have needed only one operation. I have asked myself why I didn't go to the doctor earlier.
"The truth is that I was probably kidding myself and wanted to believe there was nothing wrong," said 63-year-old Nick who for many years was managing director at Kershaw's Garden Centre, Brighouse.
The founder and former chairman of the regeneration group Build a Brighter Brighouse, Nick had always played an active role in the development of his home town and had prided himself on his ability to work long hours and take on numerous duties.
But with hindsight he now realises that the warning signs that his health was suffering were all there.
"I think I was in denial. The symptoms were there and I ignored them. I had been bleeding from the bowel and I was very uptight and tired. But at the end of the day you convince yourself that cancer is never going to happen to you."
Eventually, prompted by his partner Jenny, Nick sought medical advice but admits he was still 'gung ho' about his illness. "My doctor referred me to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary but I was still trying to convince myself there was nothing wrong. So when I was told I had a malignant tumour on my bowel I couldn't take it in, I was in total shock."
Once the bad news began to sink in, Nick, of Laverock Lane, took a down-to-earth approach. "I didn't want to go researching my condition on the internet, I didn't want to read lots of leaflets. The doctors worked out a plan, told me what was going to happen and I was happy to stick to it.
"The thing to remember is that cancer affects everyone differently. I was determined to stay positive and keep busy. After all, you're the same person the day after a diagnosis as you were the day before."
The worse side effects of the chemotherapy were excessive tiredness and a sensitivity to the cold but whenever Nick felt low in spirits or in need of support, specialist nurse Lisa Shaw was on hand to give advice and boost morale.
Once the tumour had shrunk, Nick was admitted to hospital in Huddersfield for an operation on his bowel, then six weeks later to St James's Hospital in Leeds for an operation to remove a tumour on his liver.
"I knew that the cancer had spread to my liver and that I would need two operations. Friends, relatives and my partner Jenny have been amazing – it would be an awful thing to go through if you were on your own.
"I was determined to get out of hospital as soon as I could but that wouldn't have been possible without a lot of support."
There was a setback for Nick when he suffered a urine infection and he still requires regular check-ups but he is optimistic about his prospects and has discovered a renewed energy for life that has seen him determined to fight the forthcoming General Election for the Liberal-Democrats.
He works as a recruiter for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and claims his experience of cancer has changed his attitude to life. "I'm more relaxed now and I don't get so uptight about things. I still try to do things to the best of my ability but I don't get so stressed.
"I've proved that cancer is not the big killer it once was and people should not have this big fear of it.
"My main message is that statistically fewer men recover from bowel cancer than women and the main reason is that they they don't seek advice soon enough. It's a man thing. But the earlier the diagnosis, the better your chances."
Facts
Each year more than 37,500 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK – more than 100 people every day.
It is the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer, with around 17,000 new cases diagnosed in 2006.
Around 20,400 men are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK each year making it the third most common cancer in men after prostate and lung cancer.
Over 80 per cent of bowel cancer cases occur in people aged 60 and over.
Worldwide over a million new cases of bowel cancer were diagnosed in 2002.
The lowest incidence rates of bowel cancer are seen in South Central Asia and Eastern, Western, Northern and Middle African countries. The highest rates are in Europe, North America and Australasia.
High intake of red and processed meat will increase the chances of developing bowel cancer whereas a diet rich in fibre will reduce your risk.
At least 10 per cent of colon cancers in the UK are related to overweight or obesity.
Facts supplied by the website www.cancerresearchuk.org
Friends, relatives and my partner Jenny have been amazing – it would be an awful thing to go through if you were on your own.
“I was determined to get out of hospital as soon as I could but that wouldn’t have been possible without a lot of support.”
There was a setback for Nick when he suffered a urine infection and he still requires regular check-ups but he is optimistic about his prospects and has discovered a renewed energy for life that has seen him determined to fight the forthcoming General Election for the Liberal-Democrats.
He works as a recruiter for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and claims his experience of cancer has changed his attitude to life. “I’m more relaxed now and I don’t get so uptight about things. I still try to do things to the best of my ability but I don’t get so stressed.
“I’ve proved that cancer is not the big killer it once was and people should not have this big fear of it.
“My main message is that statistically fewer men recover from bowel cancer than women and the main reason is that they they don’t seek advice soon enough. It’s a man thing. But the earlier the diagnosis, the better your chances.”
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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