39-year-old “healthy” man who was told bowel cancer was acid reflux shows symptoms

A “FIT AND HEALTHY” man who was told his bowel cancer was acid reflux revealed what signs people should watch out for.

Matt Best, 39, was misdiagnosed with ulcers and acid reflux – something he attributed to a rich diet and “abuse” of alcohol.

But when a workout left the “fit and healthy” Aussie feeling “extremely weak,” he rushed to doctors for a blood test.

The results showed the Brisbane sales manager – who spent his spare time walking with his wife Amanda and their dog, Kali – was anemic, which is a warning sign of bowel cancer often missed by doctors.

“I even remember asking my then gastroenterologist jokingly, ‘It’s not cancer, is it? And he said “at your age, very unlikely,” Matt told Daily Mail Australia.

A colonoscopy revealed a 10cm tumor growing in his large intestine and in April 2018, doctors told Matt he had stage 3C bowel cancer.

This meant that the cancer had spread to the tissues and lymph nodes surrounding the intestine, but not to nearby organs.

“I was shocked, confused, numb, I had 4,000 questions,” Matt said.

“I remember just looking at a clock and not knowing what was going on.”

‘I FELT A CHRONIC VIEW WAR’

Matt was 36 at the time and in his prime when doctors rushed him to hospital and removed 30 of his lymph nodes, seven of which were cancerous.

He underwent six-month FOLFOX chemotherapy which took him to hospital every other Friday and left him with a “chronic hangover” of nausea and exhaustion.

He also suffered from peripheral neuropathy, which causes pain, numbness and a “tingling” sensation in his limbs.

“I remember that at Christmas my brothers thought it was funny that I was constantly dropping my beer bottle because my fingers were shaking from the nerve damage,” he said.

The 39-year-old is now cancer-free, but said he would continue to have colonoscopies once a year to monitor the health of his stomach.

“It was a strange journey and an array of unexpected emotions,” said Matt.

“I have never felt so much support in my life and I am truly grateful to every friend and family member.”

Matt says it’s important for young men to overcome their discomfort at seeing a doctor and discussing their health issues with friends.

“There is always such awkwardness,” he said.

“I try to lighten the mood and tell them a joke I made up, which is ‘When I found out I had bowel cancer, I was drained…’ The answer is always the same, only YOU can tell this joke! ”

Matt said there was no reason to be ashamed to ask for help.

“If that doesn’t suit you, get it checked out!” Better yet, don’t wait and have a regular check-up, ”he said.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest killer, according to Bowel Cancer UK.

More than 42,000 Britons are diagnosed each year and at least 16,000 die from it.

Meanwhile, 1 in 15 men and 1 in 18 women will be diagnosed with bowel cancer in their lifetime.