A DAD who suspected he had gallstones or was constipated and sent home by doctors with laxatives has tragically been told he now has “weeks to a few months to live”.
Kev Coles, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs., was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in September last year after experiencing months of stomach pain.
The 46-year-old dad-of-seven says he suffered none of the typical symptoms for the cancer, so was shocked when doctors told him the severity of his illness.
Wife Kayleigh Coles, 36, encouraged him to visit the doctors over the pain for the first time in July 2024 – where she claims he was sent away.
The couple originally suspected he was suffering from gallstones or a blockage, like constipation.
However, due to the pain worsening, they visited the GP several more times where Kayleigh says Kev was prescribed laxatives and repeatedly sent home.
But on August 22, things took a turn for the worst when Kev started sweating “like he was under a shower” and his skin turned yellow.
Kayleigh said: “He started to sweat like someone was tipping water over him and when he looked at me I noticed that he had gone completely yellow. Then he just vomited.”
After weeks of insisting on an immediate scan, Kev received his devastating diagnosis in September last year, where doctors found a nine centimetre tumour in his bowel.
The scan also revealed that the cancer had spread to his liver, which was causing his yellow skin.
Kev began chemotherapy in October but, having now suffered liver failure he has been told that he only has “weeks to a few months to live” and is receiving end of life care at home.
Kayleigh added: “He didn’t have any of the other symptoms. The bowel cancer itself was symptomless, we only noticed once it spread to his liver. He never got blood in his stool like in the TV adverts.
“It has just been a shock to everybody. Even now it feels like a story. It doesn’t feel real most of the time. How can you get your head around something that happens this quickly.
“Just five months ago we were on holiday splashing each other in the sea, now he can’t stand up unaided.
“Life has been extremely hard. I am just making sure that I have as many seconds with him as I can.”
Since his diagnosis, the dad has lost 35kg and has been struggling with his mobility.
‘Symptoms aren’t always what you expect’
Kayleigh has now set up a GoFundMe page to aid with family expenses and help Kev to keep his independence.
So far the page has raised over £1,500 which will go towards specialised Chemo clothes, as well as adaptations to their home- such as getting a bed downstairs.
Kayleigh also says that she wants to raise awareness for the condition, and how symptoms aren’t always what you expect.
The mum says she feels let down by the NHS, as if they had spotted it sooner, he could have been in a better position.
She said: “It is so upsetting that he was sent away countless times with laxatives.
It should have been taken more seriously when he first came in with stomach pain. It was a silly mistake, and a deadly one
Kayleigh Coles
“It has been a whirlwind since the diagnosis. It is just such a shame that it wasn’t found sooner.
“It should have been taken more seriously when he first came in with stomach pain. It was a silly mistake, and a deadly one.
“It is now incurable. There isn’t anything that can be done to save him. I am having to lose my best friend because people didn’t listen to him.
“There needs to be more awareness. If you have a stomachache then get it checked out, and please don’t feel that you are being overbearing.”
Kev and Kayleigh, who met over eight years ago at a train station, were set to be married in August of this year.
But, with Kev’s diagnosis, the couple decided not to wait and had a small ceremony in December 2024.
Kayleigh said: “We just didn’t want to not be man and wife anymore. We have always been very close but we are inseparable now.”
A spokesperson for University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust said: “We would encourage Mr Coles to speak to our Patient Advice and Liaison Team to raise any concerns about care at UHNM so we can fully investigate.”
Donate to Kev’s GoFundMe by clicking here.
Tummy pain, like Kev experienced, is one of the symptoms of bowel cancer listed by the NHS.
Find out other common signs of the disease below…
What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer?
IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough.
While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease.
Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver.
If you notice any of the signs, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
- A change in your normal toilet habits – going more frequently for example
- Pain or a lump in your tummy
- Extreme tiredness
- Losing weight
Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs include:
- Gripping pains in the abdomen
- Feeling bloated
- Constipation and being unable to pass wind
- Being sick
- Feeling like you need to strain – like doing a number two – but after you’ve been to the loo
While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools.
But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease.
