Carl Williamson, aged 47
Environmental health technician from Bideford

 “I'd felt unwell for a couple of years and kept going back to my GP to say there was something wrong, that I didn't feel right. They kept saying it was stress or a virus of some type, so take a few days off.

“Then I did a charity walk of about 18 miles. I used to be very fit, having just come out of the army, but I couldn't manage it. I went into work a couple of days later and they said, 'Go to the doctor' but I'd already been doing that. So they got me to go to A&E instead at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH).

“The triage nurse there had one look at me and took me round the corner. When the doctor looked at me and did the blood pressure and other checks, he said: 'You shouldn't be alive'.

“From then on the process was very good. My surgeon, Katie Cross, and her team were fantastic, and I've now just had my third annual 'all clear'.

“Looking back on it, I had all the symptoms – the blood in the stool, the stickiness and the rank smell. 

“I really welcome the new campaign. It'll help you and your doctor make sure you get checked out quickly if you've got these sorts of symptoms, then get treatment as early as possible if you need it.

“I wasn't that lucky, but I'd urge anyone with symptoms to make sure they see their doctor early – don't hang around and end up in A&E when it might be too late.  I hate to think how close I was to not being here any more.

“I've had two colleagues die from bowel cancer as well, one of them only 37. I think men in particular are embarrassed about having someone, even a doctor, poking around in their backside, but we've got to get over that.

 “Now my quality of life is fantastic compared to what it was. I found it hard to get out of bed  and to sleep, and my temper was unreal. Now I've got a taste for life again.”