A Scots dad’s world was turned upside down after his ‘flushed red face’ turned out to be a sign of a rare terminal cancer. Craig Speirs first went to his GP in 2008 after he began experiencing the strange symptom alongside heart palpitations and going to the toilet 10-15 times a day.
The former security company manager told how doctors were puzzled as to the cause before eventually receiving his diagnosis five years later in 2013. The 42-year-old, from Elderslie, said he thought “life was over” when medics told him he had Neuroendocrine cancer, which can start in different parts of the body.
His disease started in his rectum and he now has ‘hundreds of tumours’ on his liver too after being given just five years to live. The devastating diagnosis shocked his loved-ones including wife Angela, son Adam, seven, and daughter Rhianne, 14.
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 were 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."
Each year in the UK, around 6,000 people are diagnosed with a Neuroendocrine cancer. Although he was told he didn't have long to live, Craig, now 42, is still alive and has learnt to live with the terminal illness.
In the last decade, Craig has had eight operations on his liver, two heart surgeries and multiple treatments - including chemotherapy - to improve his quality of life.
His health battle has been mentally challenging with the dad having had good days and bad, but he has focused his energy into raising awareness of Neuroendocrine cancer and is even an ambassador for Neuroendocrine Cancer UK (NCUK).
Craig is organising a charity firewalk at the Johnstone Bowling Club hoping to raise £100,000 for the NCUK to help the vital organisation with cancer research.
He added: "I had a meeting with my professional not long ago and they are surprised that I am doing well. I have become so used to it and adapted to that way of life now.
"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 some day 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."
The charity firewalk takes place on Friday November 10 and those wishing to get involved can do so by emailing Craig on craigspeirs1980@gmail.com.
To donate to Craig's fundraising campaign, click here.
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