When Dame Deborah James was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer, she was determined to do everything she could to raise awareness. Take a Break speaks to Ellie Hurrell who says that thanks to Deborah, her cancer was caught early…
In December 2016, aged just 35, Deborah James was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Her 6.5cm tumour was removed later that month, but devastatingly in February 2017 she was told it had spread to her lungs and liver and she was classed as incurable.
Tragically the mum of two had been having symptoms for months before her diagnosis – she was going to the toilet more often, had lost weight, had blood in her stools and was tired. She went to her doctor five times in the six months before her diagnosis, but it was put down to stress or IBS.
After her diagnosis, she said, "If I’d been diagnosed earlier then it could have been cut out and in all likelihood, I would have been fine.
“But I can’t keep dwelling on that. Instead, I want to raise awareness and help others. I want other people to know the reality and get themselves checked out. I’m beating the odds so far, but it will eventually kill me. I want to spread the message in the time I have left.”
It’s exactly what she did, posting on social media about the symptoms of bowel cancer, becoming a co-host of the award-winning podcast You, Me and the Big C, writing books and columns and running a marathon.
And it wasn’t in vain. Ellie Hurrell, 52, is one of the many that credits her with saving her life.
The NHS worker, who lives in Sheffield with her husband Neil Rhodes, 54, and their four children, says, “I remember watching Deborah on a chat show and I was captivated by her. She was talking about having stage four bowel cancer, she looked normal – healthy, young and fit and like me, she was a keen runner and a vegetarian. I couldn’t believe it had happened to her.”
A few months later Ellie started getting symptoms, she lost weight, was tired, her running times had slowed and her bowel habits changed.
She says, “If I hadn’t seen Deborah discussing what had happened to her, I doubt I’d have gone to the doctor so quickly. I was referred for a colonoscopy and I was diagnosed on Christmas Eve 2021. Because it was caught early it was removed in an operation in February and I haven’t needed any further treatment.”
There is no doubt that Deborah had an enormous impact on raising awareness of bowel cancer. In the days after her death hits on the NHS web page on bowel cancer rose by 120 per cent. In the UK someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer every 15 minutes and sadly 46 people a day die from it. If it is caught early though, nearly everyone survives, but sadly almost half of people are diagnosed when it has already spread.
Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer UK, says, “Our patron Dame Deborah James has been a constant source of inspiration, especially to those affected by bowel cancer. People will never forget how many lives she saved now and in future thanks to the increase in awareness of the disease and its symptoms that she generated.
“Dame Deborah’s firm reminder for everyone to ‘check your poo’ is a crucial one, as changes to bowel habit, bleeding from your bottom and blood in your poo are some of the red flag symptoms of bowel cancer. If you’re experiencing any of these, please contact your GP straight away. Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, but it doesn’t have to be this way as it’s treatable and curable, especially if it’s diagnosed early and by going straight to your GP it’s possible to rule out the disease first and fast.”
Deborah catalogued her journey candidly and honestly on social media – delivering her message, but also showing how you can live with cancer, often dancing while having chemotherapy, always putting on her make up and exercising. And as her life drew to an end, she set up the Bowelbabe Fund for cancer research. Since it launched last May it’s raised an astonishing £11.3 million pounds. Her campaigning efforts were rewarded when she was made a Dame, with Prince William visiting her at home to bestow the honour on her. She left behind her children Hugo, 15, and Eloise, 13, and husband Sebastian Bowen, 43.
Ellie will always be grateful to Deborah. She says, “I felt lonely when I had cancer, I didn’t know anyone else going through the same. But her podcast really helped me to feel less alone. And I loved the fact she embraced life and got on with really living.
“Running is my passion and I knew if she could do it with stage four then I could carry on. Not everyone will be the same and everyone must go at their own pace, but I was back to it four weeks after my operation. And she helped me to realise there’s no point in putting things off. I’m going to run a marathon in Norway soon – something I’ve always wanted to do. And I will think of her as I do it – without her I might not have been able to.”
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BOWEL CANCER?
Bowel cancer is a broad term for cancer that begins in the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. Bowel cancer is more common in people over the age of 50, but it can affect anyone of any age.
Symptoms of bowel cancer can include:
*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
It's important to know that most people with these symptoms don't have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. But if you have any of these, or if things just don't feel right, go to see your GP.
You may need to visit your doctor more than once if your symptoms don't get better. Knowing the symptoms and acting on them as quickly as possible could mean that if you do have bowel cancer, it may be diagnosed earlier when it's much easier to treat. People whose cancer is diagnosed at an early stage have a much higher chance of successful treatment than those whose cancer has become more widespread.
Don't be embarrassed and don't ignore any symptoms. Doctors are used to seeing lots of people with bowel problems.
For more information, go to bowelcanceruk.org.uk