Jim's Bowel Cancer Story
Jim Ahern, 66, originally from Cork was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2024 after a BowelScreen testfound traces of blood in his stool.
“I did BowelScreen in 2020 and 2022, and there were no problems,” says Jim. “In 2024, I returned the sample and afterwards they said they found traces of blood that were imperceptible to the eye. I went for a colonoscopy, after which the doctor told me that there was a tumour in the top right-hand corner of my colon. I was almost speechless.
“I had just woken up from the anaesthetic after the colonoscopy when I got my diagnosis. I was listening to what the doctor was saying but missed a key phrase. The doctor said that it seemed to be contained. Fortunately, my wife Catherine was with me. She recalled for me later, that he told me that it was growing slowly and wasn’t aggressive and that my tumour was probably there since 2016. That was my first bit of luck!”
While Jim’s prognosis was good, he still struggled in the days after his diagnosis as he tried to get to grips with it.
“When I was first diagnosed, my mind ran off down the road of worst-case scenarios, and I had to call it back to reality. No matter how strong people think they are, I don’t think that anyone is strong enough not to think the worst straight after they have been diagnosed."
"I’m a meticulous planner, so it was hard for me to meet a situation that I felt was running away from me, and that I could not control. It was really disconcerting.”
Jim was referred to the Beacon Hospital, Dublin where further tests were carried out. These tests confirmed that the tumour was contained and that it had not travelled to other major organs. The tests, however, also revealed that calcification was present around his heart. On Thursday the 16th of January 2025, he had an angiogram at 3pm to confirm his heart situation, followed by robotic colon surgery at 7pm to remove the piece of his colon where the tumour was located.
“The following morning, 11 hours after the surgery, the physiotherapist urged me to get out of bed as soon as possible. I took this seriously and walked three times that day. The hospital really wanted my system to move normally as quickly as possible. I totally bought into this idea. On Saturday, I got my first meal, which I thought was manna from heaven. I had some broth, and then some lime jelly with ice cream. I hadn’t eaten anything since the previous Wednesday. It felt like a meal at a five-star restaurant.
“The following Monday, they took some bloods and, as they were clear, said that I could go home. So, I started my recovery very well. At home, I would walk up and down the length of the house 30 times every day. I did some breathing exercises to avoid pneumonia and was eating very sensibly.
“Three weeks after surgery, I went to see the specialist at the Beacon Hospital to receive the pathology results. He told me that the cancer was not in my lymph nodes and that it had not spread. He told me that I would be checked regularly over the coming years. Importantly, he emphasised that I should get on with the rest of my life.
"I know that I got lucky and that it is up to me to capitalise on my luck!”
Jim is sharing his story to encourage people to engage with BowelScreen when they receive their letter.
“They only discovered the calcification around my heart because of the tests they did after they found the tumour in my colon. The heart situation could have got me before my colon might have because the tumour was growing so slowly. I had a full MOT because I took the first step of doing BowelScreen. That was my second slice of luck.”
Jim is doing well after his cancer experience and is feeling positive about the future.
“I’m flying it now, I’m doing really well. I went back to playing golf six weeks after the surgery. I’m eating very well and I’m feeling strong, which is great.”
