A dad-of-two who was given just five years to live at the age of 32 has revealed his early symptoms, including ‘flushing’ to his face and body. Craig Speirs, from Elderslie, near Paisley, thought that his ‘life was over’ when he got the diagnosis of liver cancer.
As well as the flushing, Craig initially had issues with needing the toilet between 10 and 15 times a day and getting regular heart palpitations. It was five years before doctors finally diagnosed cancer - when he was 32.
Initially he was told he potentially only had five years to live, but Craig, now 42, has defied the predictions but is having to live with extensive cancer. Craig was diagnosed with Neuroendocrine cancer, a rare cancer which can start in different parts of the body. It was in the rectum where Craig’s cancer had started and he now has ‘hundreds of tumours’ on his liver too.
He told Glasgow Live: “I thought my life was over when I got told I had cancer. It was quite shocking for my family too, they probably thought they are going to lose me. I worked for nine months and then it became really difficult with all the treatments and I wasn’t able to do the job how I wanted to do it. It was making the treatments even harder so I just took a step back to spend time with my kids.
“A cancer diagnosis will prioritise your life in a way that nothing else ever will. You will look at things in your life and think that things which weren’t a priority before become a priority. My priority in life isn’t how far I can go in my career, I have different aspirations in life.”
The news of the cancer, however, shocked his loved ones including his wife Angela who he shares two children - Adam, seven and Rhianne, aged 14. Each year in the UK, around 6,000 people are diagnosed with a Neuroendocrine cancer.
Craig has had eight operations on his liver, two heart surgeries and multiple treatments - including chemotherapy. Craig has focused his energy on raising awareness of Neuroendocrine cancer and is even an ambassador for Neuroendocrine Cancer UK (NCUK).
Craig said: “I have hundreds of small tumours in my liver. If you see a scan, you’d think this guy has days to live but because it is slow growing my body is able to adapt and live with it a bit longer.
“If I was to sit in the house and do nothing my mental health would be poor. I am feeling quite positive, we have 50 people signed up from friends, family and patients. My hope is that someday we find a test that will speed up the process so patients can get diagnosed earlier.
“I would like to have a national firewalk after mine, I am hoping I can persuade people to do similar things across the UK. The main target is to try and raise one million pounds.”
To donate to Craig's fundraising campaign, click here.
Symptoms of neuroendocrine tumours
The symptoms of a neuroendocrine tumour depend on where in the body it is and what hormones it produces.
For example, a tumour in the digestive system (gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumour) may cause diarrhoea, constipation or tummy pains.
A tumour in the lung (pulmonary neuroendocrine tumour) may cause wheezing or a persistent cough.
Some tumours may lead to abnormally large amounts of hormones being released into the bloodstream. These are known as "functioning tumours" and can cause symptoms such as diarrhoea, flushing, cramps, wheezing, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), changes in blood pressure and heart problems. For more information visit the NHS website here.
