People we have helped

Everyday we provide people who are affected by bowel cancer with support and information; through our nurse helpline, patient to patient support, our use of social media, our comprehensive publications and our website. Below you can read some examples of the people your donations have allowed us to help:

Judith

When Judith first contacted Beating Bowel Cancer she was extremely distressed. She had recently lost her husband to bowel cancer and had been diagnosed herself in the later stages of his illness. She had stage 4 disease and her oncologist had told her that her prognosis was not good. Judith was supported by the nurses and matched with a Patient Voice. She was also matched with another patient in her area. The two have become good friends, meet regularly and have decided to set up a support group in their area. Despite her poor prognosis Judith resolved to live life to the full. She opted for oral chemotherapy so that she could have the flexibility to go on holidays when she wanted to. 

Judith's some took part in the Sandhurst assault course challenge in 2011 and Judith helped raised funds by holding a succession of charity dinner parties.

Read her story

Heather

Heather has been a Patient Voice since 2008 actively supporting other newly diagnosed patient's. In autumn of 2010 Heather received the devastating news that her cancer had returned and spread to her liver. She decided to apply for Avastin from the newly released cancer drugs fund. At the same time the One Show had approached Beating Bowel Cancer to ask if any of our Patient Voices would be applying to the drugs fund. Heather bravely volunteered and allowed the film crew to come and film her filming out if the application had been successful. Thankfully it had. Heather has now been on Avastin for four months and her tumours are reducing in size. Heather has since supported our Patient Day 2011 where she was a model in the fashion show 'surviving with style'.

Andy

Andy got in touch with Beating Bowel Cancer after he had his ileostomy reversed. He was put in touch with a Patient Voice called Steve and the two quickly became firm friends. Andy is now a Health in the Workplace presenter for the charity. He has also done media work for us appearing in the Daily Mirror to raise awareness of the disease. Andy ran the London Marathon 2011 for us and recently appeared with his family in our first ever TV advert.

Read his story

Tony and Tanya

Tony contacted Beating Bowel Cancer after seeing a request for Health in the Workplace presenters on our Facebook page. Tony used to be a black cab driver so was used to talking and felt that he would be able to engage with a range of audiences.

Both Tony and Tanya have used our nurse helpline as Tony's disease has progressed. They have also both received and given support as part of the Patient Voices network. Tanya is involved with a charity called the League of Jewish Women who attended our Beyond Bowel Cancer patient event, giving women tips and helping out with the fashion show.