In September of 2020 Matt Eamer was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at just 39 years, Matt will join us to share how he managed to find that strength along with a positive mindset to shift his perspective in life and prioritise what really matters in life 💛
In September 2020, after having escalating abdmonial pain and a call with the GP , Matt had been recommended getting an ultrasound done. However, the pain had become so bad that he went straight to A&E.
“I had no thoughts at all that my symptoms could be caused by cancer. At that stage I had very limited knowledge of bowel cancer and it simply felt like something ‘had got stuck’. I’d just celebrated my son’s second birthday and we’d had a barbecue. I joked that I’d probably eaten a bad sausage and was suffering the consequences of overeating!
An scan showed an obstruction in my large intestine. My surgeon explained the need for an emergency operation, and a Macmillan nurse was present during this conversation. They discussed that the obstruction could be cancerous but was not necessarily so.
They took me in for the operation which is where they found and removed my primary tumour. It was probably a week after the emergency operation when I was told that I had cancer. They explained the initial tests had confirmed that what was removed was cancerous and that once I’m out of hospital some form of ‘mop-up’ chemotherapy would likely occur. At that point they were hopeful they’d got everything and the chemotherapy would just be precautionary.”
A week or so after I returned home, I had a CT scan and MRI of my liver. Then some time passed, probably a couple of weeks, before I had an appointment. Despite lockdown having returned at this point, I had a face to face with my oncologist’s registrar. I’m glad it was a face to face as the news shared wasn’t positive. The scans showed the cancer had spread to me liver. I was now stage four. At this point in my diagnosis I didn’t know what a lot of these terms meant - so having some face to face time I was able to find the strength to ask the hard questions”
Matt will join us to share how he managed to find that strength along with a positive mindset to shift his perspective in life and prioritise what really matters in life 💛
Please book on and hear Matt’s story, there will be an opportunity to ask questions
If you would like to know more about Matt please click on the link below:
Look forward to seeing you there!
Team WOLO 💛