A man has spoken of how his struggles to go to the toilet led to him being diagnosed with 'incurable cancer' at the age of just 24, Chronicle Live reports. Phil Dobson, from Blyth, Northumberland, realised not all was well when he struggled to pass urine during a trip to Edinburgh with his girlfriend in July 2021.
After initially believing the cause was alcohol consumption, Phil experienced intense bladder pain on the train back to Newcastle, and went directly to A&E.
"On the second day of the trip, I started having trouble passing urine," Phil said. "I felt like I always needed a wee, but nothing was coming out. I thought nothing of it because I had been drinking alcohol throughout the day and I thought I might be bloated.
"But on the train on the way home, I was sweating badly and couldn’t sit still due to the pain in my bladder. As soon as we got home to Newcastle, I went straight to A&E."
At first Phil was told it was a urinary tract infection and his GP prescribed him some medication, but when symptoms failed to improve he underwent further tests. Despite nothing being discovered the pain persisted, and in August 2021, he visited the doctor.
A lump was discovered on Phil's prostate during his check-up, so he was sent to the Freeman Hospital where doctors discovered a tumour.
"The staff tried to get me to pass urine, but I couldn’t do it at all," Phil said. "They put a catheter in me and drained my bladder. About two litres of urine was drained from me - a normal bladder should only hold around 500ml.
"I was in a lot of pain because my kidneys weren’t passing urine. They did a scan and discovered it was a tumour."
It was at this point that Phil received the devastating diagnosis that he had a rare cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma, which doctors say is 'incurable'.
"I was devastated," Phil said. "I had family in the past who had passed away after cancer. I was determined and hoped that youth would be on my side. Naturally, my family was devastated too. I was so healthy, did lots of exercise, and had no previous medical conditions."
Following the diagnosis Phil has undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment at the Freeman Hospital. "The consultant said told me that they think the tumour is incurable, but the maintenance chemo can control it and make sure it’s not coming back," Phil said.
"I have decided to just live the best life I can. I moved in with my girlfriend earlier this year and we got a dog, which has kept me busy and has been a really great thing for me to look forward to. I also went back to work at BT in July."
Teenage Cancer Trust has supported Phil throughout his cancer battle, and he is supporting the charity's campaign to raise awareness of the main signs of cancer in young people. This comes after new research from the charity has revealed that less than half of 18-24-year-olds can correctly identify any of the five main signs and symptoms of cancer in their demographic.
Despite lumps, bumps and swellings being the most recognised sign of cancer, 56% were not able to identify this as a symptom. The other five main signs of cancer according to the Teenage Cancer Trust are mole changes, significant weight change, unexplained tiredness and persistent pain.
“Teenage Cancer Trust helped me so much," Phil said. "A teenage and young adult clinical nurse specialist on my unit explained what was going to happen to me when I was diagnosed with cancer. It was such a confusing time, but her support was amazing.
"It's difficult when you worry that you are wasting a GP's time, but if you know that something is wrong, don't hesitate to get it checked."
Chief nurse at the Teenage Cancer Trust Dr Louise Soanes said the charity is campaigning for the Government to run a public awareness campaign for cancers experienced by young people.
"It can be scary to think about cancer, particularly if you’re a young person, but it can happen to anyone of any age," she said. "Always listen to your body and if you have concerns never be afraid to seek help – the likelihood is that it isn’t cancer, but it’s always best to check.”
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