Latest news with #Trekstok
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I thought my bum pain was from rollerblading - diagnosis was a shock'
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."
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I had pain in my buttock - diagnosis took a few weeks to sink in'
Andy Spary, 39, initially thought it was an injury A runner has quipped he's after a Kim Kardashian-esque rear end after his cancer diagnosis led to groundbreaking reconstructive surgery on his buttock. Carpenter Andy Spary, 39, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, initially mistook severe pain in his posterior for a common injury before being hit with the earth-shattering news of stage three bowel cancer, requiring surgeons to excise "a big chunk of his bum". Despite facing a major operation, Andy and his spouse Amy, 35, are managing to see the bright side, harbouring hopes of an enhanced profile post-surgery thanks to the medics' handy work using tissue from nearby areas to recreate his buttock. Former rollerblader Andy isn't just sitting on his new glutes; he's setting ambitious goals to tackle the London Marathon next year as part of his recovery journey and to drum up funds for Trekstok, a charity aiding young cancer sufferers. "The diagnosis was a shock and it took a few weeks to really sink in," he confessed. "I had a feeling something was not right but you're never really prepared for news like that." Andy said: "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." The onset of Andy's troubles traced back to March 2024 when he rushed to A&E at Tunbridge Wells Hospital with an acute burning pain in his left buttock - initially dismissed as a skating injury. An MRI scan and subsequent biopsy uncovered a tumour branching from his colon, leading to a stage three bowel cancer diagnosis for Andy on June 14, 2024. This condition was found to be associated with his pre-existing Crohn's disease, which is known for causing persistent inflammation within the digestive system and can trigger abnormal cellular growth. "They class it as colon cancer but the tumour has branched off of my colon in my buttocks area and is spreading," Andy explained. "We're focusing on the positives, which helps, taking it that it's treatable and I can beat it." On July 8, Andy underwent surgery to have a stoma fitted, effectively sidelining the cancerous region in preparation for chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which commenced two months later. Despite hopes, the tumour did not diminish as much as anticipated, prompting a second surgery on May 21, aimed at eradicating the cancer while maintaining the stoma. "In an ideal world, if the treatment completely destroyed the tumour then the stoma could be reversed," he said. "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." The medical team proceeded on May 21 to excise the remaining portion of Andy's colon, including the residual tumour. A plastic surgeon followed up with laparoscopic elape surgery to mend his pelvic floor and reconstruct his posterior using tissue from the surrounding area. Andy said: "One surgeon removes the tumour and then the plastic surgeon patches everything up. New bum, new me, all good." The surgery also presents the hopeful benefit of alleviating his Crohn's disease symptoms, as it involves removing most of the affected area. A keen rollerblader, Andy is well-acquainted with hospitals due to numerous admissions, and he admits he's "no stranger to surgery". He credits running for keeping him robust in body and mind, revealing that he would squeeze in jogs between biweekly chemotherapy sessions whenever he felt up to it. This determination has fuelled his ambition to run the 2026 London Marathon for Trekstok, a charity supporting young adults with cancer. His fundraising efforts on GoFundMe have already surpassed £3,350. "During my process battling this, I feel I've been incredibly fortunate to have had my wife and my parents to support me," Andy said. He recognises that not everyone has such a network, highlighting Trekstok's role in aiding young people blindsided by illness without a support system. The outpouring of generosity on GoFundMe has left him astounded, with donations reaching £2,500 in less than a week and still climbing. 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 in hospital post-surgery, Andy is eager to get discharged by the end of May. He faces the challenge of relearning to walk through physiotherapy, with hopes to resume marathon training by year's end. He's been able to sit up and even take his initial steps post-surgery. He mentioned that while doctors have optimism about the surgery's success, he must await a month-long period before a scan can verify if he's indeed free from cancer. "Keeping fit and healthy has been my best weapon," said Andy. "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."
