"I was rushed to hospital, the following morning I had an operation"

After I had reported stomach-pains, my GP ordered hospital. An emergency operation was performed. My surgeon told me he had removed a large section of my bowel, that all had gone well, and that the cancer had gone. This was the first I had heard of cancer.

A few days later, when I was due to leave hospital, I was very sick, vomiting copious bile. X-rays followed, then a second operation because of 'adhesions' caused by the first operation.

Going into this second operation, a lot of statistics were read out to me about the risks the operation would incur. They included what I understood to be '50% mortality'. I asked for this to be repeated, and it was. Either '50% mortality' or '50% morbidity'.

Either sounded very frightening but I was already sliding away under the anaesthetic. I was in ICU for several days afterwards. During this time I experienced, periodically, tremendous physical discomfort that nothing would relieve. It was as if my entire body was in the grip of a serious cramp.

When I tried to relax, my body would snap back into the rigor. All the ICU staff who cared for me were wonderful, except for one. Altogether I was in the hospital for a month. The care I received from ward staff was exemplary. Being there for a month, I was able to observe the cleanliness regime - how immediately a bed was vacated the cleaning staffed rushed in to do an incredible job.

The unpleasant time in ICU recurred as a shadow of itself, now and then, at night, for a couple of months afterwards.

I have been attended extremely well by district nurses, by re-hab staff, by stoma staff, and by respiratory-physio staff. I have nothing but praise for all of them, particularly at this time of the limitations imposed by Corona. They have been professional, inventive, empathetic and good-humoured. I am making good progress back to health. I look forward to an appointment with my surgeon to discuss the reversal of my stoma.