“Almost immediately after I found out that cancer would take my life in the near future, I felt a powerful urge to raise awareness about cancer symptoms,” Nathaniel Dye shared.
The music educator from East London, who received a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2023, has recently been honored with the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his advocacy work in promoting cancer awareness.
“I have officially been marked as terminal,” the 39-year-old explained. “I’m in the final year of my life, and I desperately wish for someone, anywhere, to hear me say, ‘please get checked out.’”
North-west London has the lowest participation rate in bowel cancer screening in England, with only 59% of individuals getting screened, compared to the national average of 70%.
Mr. Dye was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, which has metastasized to his liver, lungs, and brain.
In response to his diagnosis, he has raised over £37,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support through various challenges, including walking the length of the country from Land’s End to John o’ Groats and running the London Marathon while playing the trombone.
“If you ever find yourself in this situation, which I hope you never do, just remember to live,” Mr. Dye urged. “Your life isn’t finished. I sincerely hope I can demonstrate that.
“I felt an overwhelming need to educate people about cancer symptoms so that others wouldn’t end up like me, facing such a grim forecast.”
Bowel cancer screening is currently offered starting at age 54, but this will lower to 50 in April.
Over 90% of individuals diagnosed with bowel cancer at the earliest stage survive the disease.
Genevieve Edwards, the chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, highlighted that bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths and the fourth most diagnosed cancer in Britain.
“We’re particularly worried about screening rates in South Asian communities,” she remarked.
“Many struggle to identify the symptoms of bowel cancer, and we hope to change that.”
Key symptoms to look for include any blood present in stool or from the rectum, as well as abdominal pain, unexpected weight loss, and extreme fatigue.
The previous administration had abandoned plans for a decade-long cancer strategy, but the current government has expressed a commitment to developing one.
“Our reforms in cancer care will facilitate over 100,000 individuals receiving their test results more quickly and thousands more beginning treatment within two months,” a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated.
“We are also investing an additional £1.5 billion into new surgical facilities and AI scanners to expedite cancer detection.”
Ms. Edwards noted that countries with established cancer strategies yield better health outcomes globally.
“It truly fosters improvement,” she added.
You can watch the complete story on BBC Politics London via iPlayer.
The post Headline: From Diagnosis to Advocacy: Music Teacher Fights Bowel Cancer by Raising Awareness on Symptoms and Screening first appeared on London.
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Author : London News
Publish date : 2025-03-24 12:05:00
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