Mum backs life-saving cancer research

A discomfort in her side during meetings is what led Paula Fowler to get checked out by her GP.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Jun 2019, 14:25 BST
Updated 11th Jun 2019, 21:45 BST
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Within a week of a blood test in October 2017, she was given the news she had stage four bowel cancer.

The 50-year-old from East Boldon, who works in customer services at Barclays in Doxford Park, went to her doctor with a pain from what turned out to be a swelling in her liver and a complaint of indigestion.

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Paula, who is married to Jeff, 49, and mum to Beth, 17, and Sam, 14, says she is still on her journey and has responded well to treatment, including surgery on her love and the removal of a bowel tumour, 21 rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Bowel cancer patient Paula Fowler has backed the COLO-SPEED project which is being run at 18 units across the North East.Bowel cancer patient Paula Fowler has backed the COLO-SPEED project which is being run at 18 units across the North East.
Bowel cancer patient Paula Fowler has backed the COLO-SPEED project which is being run at 18 units across the North East.

She is among the patients backing the COLO-SPEED project, funded by the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

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Sir Bobby’s North East project to target bowel cancer cases

Paula hopes the project will put the illness in the limelight in the same way Deborah James – who tweets as @bowelbabe and is part of the You, Me and the Big C podcast – has helped spark the conversation publically.

She said: “I don’t think bowel cancer is on the map and spoken about in the North East and we need to show it’s a force to be reckoned with.

Patient Paula Fowler, Lady Elsie Robson and Professor Colin Rees, who is a Professor of Gastroenterology, are shown the equipment used to carry out investigations on patients.Patient Paula Fowler, Lady Elsie Robson and Professor Colin Rees, who is a Professor of Gastroenterology, are shown the equipment used to carry out investigations on patients.
Patient Paula Fowler, Lady Elsie Robson and Professor Colin Rees, who is a Professor of Gastroenterology, are shown the equipment used to carry out investigations on patients.
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“What we really need to do is highlight what type of treatment is out there, that this research is going on.

“I was a fit and healthy 47-year-old, but it also happens to people in their 20s.

“We need to make sure people check their poo, as they do with their breasts and testicles, and make sure people are not embarrassed about talking about a change and go and speak to their GP – I went from knowing nothing to stage four.”

She said while the treatment has been tough, it has helped her take stock.

Mum-of-two Paula Fowler has said people need to be more open about the health of their bowels as she backed the new research project within endoscopy units across the region.Mum-of-two Paula Fowler has said people need to be more open about the health of their bowels as she backed the new research project within endoscopy units across the region.
Mum-of-two Paula Fowler has said people need to be more open about the health of their bowels as she backed the new research project within endoscopy units across the region.

“I now participate in life.

“I think like a lot of working mothers, we’re on a rollercoaster and you only get off on occasions.

“It’s taught me to be a bit more accepting, to kind to yourself, be kind to your body.”