"Bowel cancer operation with Mr Gatzen and his Dream Team at High Wycombe"

I was referred to a specialist on my 3rd visit over 6 months at my local GP surgery. It took a while because I am 47 and have no history of cancer in my family.

From that moment onwards, my care has been exceptional, and fast.

Waiting on results is the scariest time - but the care given to me by Mr Michaels (and the lovely nurse on duty that day), in diagnosing with a colonoscopy, Mr Gatzen, Mr Nakra and their extensive team in operating on the tumour was second to none. I was petrified of the general Anaesthetic - but Will saw to it that everything was OK and was so kind when I felt so scared pre surgery. The stoma nurses such as Jen and Sam were a great help (and are still there to listen and advise), and the nurses and staff and receptionists on ward 12a (and 2b for one night) were all SO lovely.

My Registrar Dr Wheeler and ' Dr Andree' were very engaged in my welfare and recovery - and made me feel like the only patient there.

When you are filled with morphine and recovering - your memory is definitely impaired, and I am certain I have forgotten some incredible people on my 8 day journey. There were some exceptional people - such as Sarah the nurse (with her poorly 3 year old at home) caring for me with a smile and such compassion, Fillipa, Rosa, Michaela, Jordan, Ann, Carol, Cath, Cathy, Maria, Chris, Renata and Annie - and the Jr Dr James these are just a few of the wonderful NHS staff that helped me.

So - if you are due to be having surgery at High Wycombe - fear not - honestly at some points, it was like being in a five star hotel (in spite of the fact the wards amalgamated for the holidays so the staff were working with lots of additional challenges over two floors)!

As for my cancer - at the moment, it appears that they managed to remove the tumour and I am awaiting contact from an oncologist to take precautionary 'mop up' chemo. I'm 4 weeks past the operation now, and am physically fit with 4 paper cut-like scars to prove that anything happened. Mentally - I still have a way to go to process all this - but wow, What an incredible team I had. Thank you to the NHS, and obviously particularly to the Great Mr Gatzen and his Dream Team!