'I thought my bum pain was from rollerblading - diagnosis was a shock'

Irish Daily Mirror

2 days ago

A runner has humorously expressed his desire for a Kim Kardashian-like derrière after his cancer diagnosis led to pioneering reconstructive surgery on his backside.
Carpenter Andy Spary, 39, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, initially brushed off severe pain in his rear as a common ailment before the devastating revelation of stage three bowel cancer meant he had to have "a big chunk of his bum" surgically removed.
Yet, even with the prospect of a significant operation ahead, Andy and his wife Amy, 35, are able to find some humour in the situation, anticipating an improved contour post-op thanks to surgeons' clever use of surrounding tissue to rebuild his buttock.
Not one to rest, former rollerblader Andy is already making grand plans to conquer the London Marathon next year, seeing it as a pivotal part of his rehabilitation and a way to raise funds for Trekstok, a charity that supports young individuals battling cancer.
"The diagnosis was a shock and it took a few weeks to really sink in," Andy shared. "I had a feeling something wasn't right but you never expect to hear news like that.", reports the Mirror.
Andy quipped: "My wife has been joking that we should get a catalogue to choose from. I joked that it should be a voluptuous number which might be good for bouncing off when I fall on my skates – Kim Kardashian's name got thrown around a lot."
Andy's battle with health complications began back in March 2024 when he found himself dashing to A&E at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, stricken with an agonising burn in his left buttock – initially shrugged off as a result of his skating endeavours.
Following an MRI and biopsy procedures, it was discovered that Andy had developed a tumour branching out from his colon – landing him with a stage three bowel cancer diagnosis on June 14, 2024. His pre-existing condition of Crohn's disease, notorious for ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract and spurring on abnormal cell growth, was linked to this new ailment.
"They class it as colon cancer but the tumour has branched off of my colon in my buttocks area and is spreading," Andy detailed. "We're focusing on the positives, which helps, taking it that it's treatable and I can beat it."
Come July 8, Andy faced surgery to fit a stoma, side-lining the malign portion in readiness for chemo and radiotherapy sessions beginning two months afterward. The cancer, however, proved stubborn, not subsiding as much as hoped and leading to a secondary surgical attempt on May 21 to eradicate the cancer while preserving the stoma.
"In an ideal world, if the treatment completely destroyed the tumour then the stoma could be reversed," he observed. "But realistically I think this is rare and if they could've shrunk the tumour down as much as possible it meant they wouldn't have to take out as big of a chunk of my bum. The plan was always to have surgery and end up with a stoma bag for life."
On May 21, the medical team successfully removed the remaining part of Andy's colon, which included the residual tumour. This was followed by a plastic surgeon performing laparoscopic elape surgery to repair his pelvic floor and reconstruct his posterior with tissue from nearby areas.
Andy remarked: "One surgeon removes the tumour and then the plastic surgeon patches everything up. New bum, new me, all good."
The operation also offers the potential advantage of reducing his Crohn's disease symptoms, as it entails excising much of the impacted region. As an avid rollerblader, Andy is no stranger to hospital stays due to frequent admissions, and he acknowledges his familiarity with surgical procedures.
He attributes his resilience in both physical and mental health to running, sharing that he would fit in runs around his biweekly chemotherapy treatments when he felt strong enough.
His resolve has spurred him on to aim for the 2026 London Marathon, running for Trekstok, a charity that supports young adults living with cancer. His GoFundMe campaign has already collected over €4,000.
"During my process battling this, I feel I've been incredibly fortunate to have had my wife and my parents to support me," Andy expressed. He understands that not everyone has such backing, underscoring the importance of Trekstok in helping young individuals who are suddenly faced with illness and lack a support network.
Andy is utterly gobsmacked by the incredible support shown through GoFundMe, as donations have soared to €3,000 in under a week and continue to rise. Andy said: "I've been blown away by the GoFundMe support, making £2,500 in under a week and it's still going. If I could make £10,000, that would be unbelievable."
Currently recuperating in hospital after his operation, Andy is keen to be discharged by May's end. He faces a tough journey to regain his ability to walk via physiotherapy, with aspirations to get back into marathon training before the year is out.
He's managed to sit up and take tentative steps following surgery. Andy shared that although doctors are hopeful about the outcome, a scan after a month is needed to confirm whether he's truly cancer-free.
"Keeping fit and healthy has been my best weapon," Andy revealed. "Having the goal of running my first marathon next year – stoma bag and all – is my motivation to stay positive and keep going. After this process, I'll be back on my feet, stronger and fitter with no more Crohn's and no more cancer, sorted."