A police officer removed his rectum after the doctors discovered a tumor of several feet invading his intestines

"I'm a dead man walking" – that's the first thought that went through Greg Llewellyn's mind when he saw a one-foot tumor in his gut.

The father of two had been suffering from ulcerative colitis for 25 years and did not think much about it when his symptoms began to change.

Assuming his condition improved a bit, Greg, a policeman, did not think about telling his doctor that he had stopped so much going to the bathroom.

Without a routine test, her cancer would not have been discovered and her evolution would have been very different.

Now, 54-year-old Greg is urging men to participate in Bowel Cancer UK's Decembeard campaign – to raise awareness of the disease and remind people to get tested.

It follows The Sun's successful No Time 2 Lose campaign, which called on the government to reduce the age of intestinal cancer screening to 50 years.

The government announced in August that it would lower the age of screening in 60- to 50-year-old intestines in England and Wales – but it is still unclear when the changes will come into effect.

Ulcerative colitis often has very similar symptoms to bowel cancer, which means that Greg was no stranger to seeing blood in his poo.

"I had it for 25 years, so it was how much blood rather than knowing if there was blood," he told the Sun.

"You also have a lot of pain, loose stool – all types of symptoms badociated with cancer of the intestines.

"I knew I had a high risk of bowel cancer because I had ulcerative colitis for so long.

"But in the 18 months that preceded my consultation with my consultant, she asked how things were going and I told them," They're great, "because I'd stopped going to the bathroom so much.

"But I did not go much to the toilet because the tumor had clogged my intestines."

Since Greg, from Neath Port, Wales, was considered to be at a higher risk of bowel cancer, he was undergoing a colonoscopy every three years to check that everything was in working order – usually patients ulcerative colitis had examinations every five years.

It was this routine test that saved Greg's life.

"When they did the colonoscopy, I saw it and it was huge," he is reminded.

"I knew it was not good and I said," That's what I think? And the doctor replied, "Yes, it's a tumor."

"As a police officer, I'm used to reading people's body language and emotions to tell if they're lying or not. That day, I wish I could not read the body language of people as well.

"I screwed up. When leaving the hospital, I felt like a dead man walking.

"I immediately phoned my wife. She was visibly upset and I took her back from the hospital home.

"The first night I went to bed and planned how and when to tell my children that I had bowel cancer.

I screwed up. When leaving the hospital, I felt like a dead man walking.

Greg Llewellyn, 53 years old

"My daughter's 21st birthday was three days later, so I decided to do it afterwards.

"The first night, I did not sleep and planned my funeral in my head. I chose the venue, the songs, my keepers – and how I was going to ask them to be my keepers – and where would the wake take place.

"I did not go to work the next day, but I went back to work the next day. I had to keep my mind busy or I would go crazy.

"I worked until the day before my operation."

In May 2014, Greg had the tumor removed – and the doctors had to remove his entire colon, large intestine, rectum and anus to reduce the risk of recurrence of his cancer.

But while he was waiting for his surgery, while he was in the hospital, Greg's bowels broke out.

"When I entered the hospital, I started to feel bad and they said that it was worrying about having surgery," recalls -he.

"I did not feel worried at all because I could not wait to get that b ***** thing from me, it was going to kill me, otherwise.

"I was getting worse and then in the evening, I felt really bad and sent me for a scanner. That even punctured my intestines – the day I went to the hospital. "

Greg had the choice of taking all the organs affected by his cancer or doctors to create what is called a pocket J, where they remove the colon and rectum and build a new pocket.

He said it was "obvious" and opted for the removal of all affected organs.

Having to tell my wife and my three kids that I have bowel cancer is probably one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do.

Greg Llewellyn, 53 years old

"The doctor explained that there could be a high risk of recurrence because I have UC, but if I do not have colon, there is no risk that It reappears, "he said.

"There was no hesitation on my part, I just said to withdraw everything, it was obvious, as far as I'm concerned."

After his surgery, Greg had five sets of grueling chemotherapy treatments for six months, in case cancer cells spread throughout his body when his bowel broke.

At present, his most recent blood tests and badyzes show no marker of the disease.

For now, Greg has not given everything yet, but he hopes to do it soon.

Greg is participating for the third time this year in Decembeard, a campaign led by Bowel Cancer UK to raise funds for research on bowel cancer and encourage people to get tested.

"To tell my wife and my three children that I have bowel cancer is probably one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do," she said. he declared.

You must be tested, you do not want to live what I have lived and what my family has experienced. Go out, do not be embarrbaded and let them fall.

Greg Llewellyn, 53 years old

"I want to raise money for research so that, hopefully, no one will ever have to feel that way.

"Since I got my diagnosis, I have lost six friends, colleagues and neighbors because of various forms of cancer. So I am extremely lucky to still be alive and to have been able to become grandfather recently for the first time.

"You have to go and do it [get tested]you do not want to live what I lived and what my family went through.

"Get out, do not be embarrbaded and let them fall."

You can donate to Greg's fundraising efforts here.

"I am the proof that an early diagnosis is important"

MATT Tebbatt is proof that if you catch early colon cancer, it is a treatable condition.

The bowel cancer was diagnosed seven weeks ago after experiencing changes in bowel movements.

Matt Tebbatt

Matt's cancer did not affect other organs and the doctors were able to remove the tumor in one operation, but the result could have been much worse if he had not asked for help earlier.

He is now urging men to participate in the Decembeard campaign of Bowel Cancer UK – to raise public awareness of the disease and remind people to get tested.

Matt, of Eckkington in Worcestershire, went to the bathroom more often than usual and noticed that there was blood in his poo.

Colon cancer had been diagnosed in his father a few years earlier. He immediately recognized the signs.

After a few visits to his doctor, Matt was referred for a colonoscopy, which detected a tumor.

Matt Tebbatt

"It started about five months ago, I had some symptoms and I thought something was wrong," he told The Sun Online.

"Throughout, until this review, everyone said," I'm sure everything is routine "or" I'm sure everything will be fine ".

"But during the badysis, I knew something was wrong because they were asking for biopsy kits, and so on.

It was a huge relief to know that it had not spread and that it was something that could be solved.

Matt Tebbatt, 47 years old

"I was basically aware that there was something out there. They used a double negative and said, "It does not sound very benign," so I just asked them if that meant it was smart and they said yes.

"It was obviously a bit of a shock and really upsetting."

A tumor biopsy was taken and sent for testing.

Meanwhile, two weeks later, Matt received a scan to determine if the cancer had spread – which is very common in bowel cancer if not detected early.

Matt Tebbatt

After his scan, Matt, an architect of One Creative Environment, was referred to a surgical procedure to remove the tumor, which he suffered on Nov. 7.

Despite the shock of which he was told that he had cancer, Matt said it was a relief to tell himself that it was at an early stage.

During the scan, I knew something was wrong because they were asking for biopsy kits and so on.

Matt Tebbatt, 47 years old

"It was a huge relief to know that it was not widespread and to know that it was something that could be settled," he said.

"Even at the very beginning, when they looked at the document, they said," We can deal with it, no matter what happens, it will happen ".

"I was really happy because I know that in the intestine, it can move to places like the lungs and liver, and it's much worse."

Matt's operation was successful and he was allowed to return home three days later, where he is recovering.

As he has been diagnosed so recently, he does not know at what stage his cancer is and whether he needs chemotherapy.

Now, Matt is using his story to "normalize" the talk about bowel cancer to encourage people to get tested for the disease.

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LEARN MORE What are the symptoms and signs of bowel cancer, how can you get treatment for this disease, and is there a test?

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Matt is also participating in Decembeard, a campaign led by Bowel Cancer UK to raise funds for research into bowel cancer and encourage people to get tested.

He will decorate his beard with dyes of different colors and Christmas balls to raise funds for charity.

Until now, he raised £ 1,600.

"Men are particularly bad at going to see doctors, we just think:" It's okay, so I'm a little behind to tell people, "he said.

Do not be embarrbaded, doctors treat these things every day, they are trained not to be bothered, so you should not be either.

Matt Tebbatt, 47 years old

"When I talked to my friends in our WhatsApp group, many people said that they had endoscopy or colonoscopy. So I think more and more people are taking it more seriously.

"But I know that many do not do it.

"Do not be embarrbaded, doctors treat all these problems day after day, they are trained not to be disturbed, so you should not be either.

"It's really, really important and I'm happy to have been tested."

You can donate to Matt Decembeard's fundraising efforts here.

"I dismissed my symptoms but I would have liked not to have any – you should not either"

NEVER ignore the changes in your stool – this is the message Hugh Wright has for other men.

The 57-year-old was diagnosed with Stage Four Bowel Cancer, which had spread to the lungs and liver in April of last year, after years of diarrhea.

He was only 55 years old at the time.

"It came out of nowhere for me and upset my life," he told The Sun Online.

"There is no good way to talk about bowel cancer. The reason I tested was because I had a lot of diarrhea.

"If I am honest, it has been going on for two or three years and I should have seen a doctor sooner.

"But I did the usual thing that people do, especially men, and badumed her irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and not much."

Hugh, of Leeds, went to see his general practitioner who sent him for a number of tests, including a colonoscopy.

It's during his exams that doctors have discovered cancer.

In an instant, Hugh's world had changed – it was not the IBS system, he thought – and he was sent for a CT scan and an MRI.

"I had rationalized the symptoms as SCI, but there was blood and pain, so I was half convinced that it was bowel cancer. You know what happens when you are afraid of things, "he added.

At 57, we do not even think about dying, we think that in 30 years, we suddenly start thinking that there are only three years left.

Hugh Wright, 57

"It was a bombshell to hear that I had bowel cancer and that it spread to my lungs and my liver.

"I just remember thinking," Does that mean I'm going to die in a few months? What does it mean?

"At 57, you do not even think about dying, you think we'll be 30 years old and suddenly, you think there's only three years left."

A week later, Hugh found himself sitting in the office of an oncologist, waiting to be informed of his future.

"He told me that it was a serious illness and that it was not curable, but manageable," he said.

To test. I had symptoms for two or three years before. If I had been away, we would almost certainly have caught him at the first step.

Hugh Wright, 57

"He said to me, 'You will not die in the next few months, but you have to think seriously about your life.'

"If you look at the statistics, my life expectancy is probably two or three years, maybe five with a bit of luck.

"But you are trying to worry … the statistics are not good for the fourth step."

Hugh began chemotherapy for sixteen weeks in May to manage his illness.

Despite everything, he says he's trying to look on the bright side every day.

"I have two children, adults and independents, who are able to take care of themselves," he said.

"I'm reasonably financially secure and I work for a company that has mbadive support and a good income protection system. So I managed to stop working and escape this stress to focus on my health.

If you look at the statistics, my life expectancy is probably two or three years, maybe five with a bit of luck

Hugh Wright, 57

"I make the difference, without being obsessed by the fact that I will probably not live very long.

"In general, my health is good, except that I'm in chemo, I have pain, but it is not totally debilitating.

"The chemo makes you feel uncomfortable, but it's not terrible, it makes my diarrhea worse, and you feel sick and lethargic for a few days, and then you recover.

"It's a bit of the price to pay to slow down the disease."

For the moment, Hugh will continue chemotherapy as and when he needs it.

He regularly tests to check the progress of the disease, but doctors can not tell him how much time he has left.

Hugh hopes his story will encourage other men to be examined. That's why he supports Decembeard.

"Go do it [get tested]. I had symptoms for two or three years before. If I had been away, we would almost certainly have caught him in the first leg, "he said.

"If you get first-stage bowel cancer, it's really curable.

"It's probably nothing, but if it's something and you go early, you have a much better chance."

You can donate to Hugh's Decembeard fundraiser here.

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