Father Of Two Calls For Greater Awareness Of Screening Following Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

A dad-of-two has asked lawyers to investigate whether his bowel cancer could have been identified sooner.

Paul Lankenau from Stone in Staffordshire has spoken for the first time about the impact the disease has had on his family. Following April’s Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Paul’s campaigning for greater awareness of screening for the disease.

He believes without screening picking up his cancer when it did, the outcome could have been far worse.

Given his age, Paul, a retired company director of an office furniture company, was part of the bowel cancer screening programme. Following a routine FIT screening test, five polyps were discovered and he was diagnosed with stage 2 bowel cancer January 2024.

Prior to this screening, Paul had visited his GP reporting concerns over seeing blood when wiping after using the toilet. He was reassured that this was nothing to be concerned about and was likely due to straining too hard when going to the toilet. No referral was made for further investigation.

Medical negligence lawyers asked to investigate Staffordshire man’s cancer diagnosis

Paul has since realised that this was likely an early sign of his bowel cancer and has therefore instructed Irwin Mitchell to investigate whether his cancer should have been diagnosed earlier.

Paul has now undergone surgery to treat the cancer and while he has been left with a permanent stoma, he is currently recovering.

Elizabeth Ronan is the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Paul.

Lawyer highlights importance of cancer screening programmes

Expert Opinion

“Paul is grateful the bowel cancer screening programme was able to identify his cancer, his diagnosis came as a shock. Understandably he has a number of concerns over whether his cancer could have been identified sooner.

“Nothing can make up for the impact of a cancer diagnosis and what Paul is going through but we’re determined to support Paul and provide him with the answers he deserves.

“Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is more important than ever in raising awareness of the disease and saving lives. Early diagnosis can literally be a matter of life and death and Paul is keen to make this point to others who find themselves in the same situation as him.

“While Paul still faces many challenges because of his cancer his story demonstrates the importance of people taking part in screening programmes.” Elizabeth Ronan

Bowel cancer: Paul speaks on how screening saved his life

Paul and his wife, Rachael, 55, have been married for 23 years and have two daughters, Holly, 23 and Poppy, 19. The eldest, Holly has just graduated from university with a degree in business and criminology, while Poppy is preparing to start university to study psychology.

Always an active man, even in retirement Paul keeps busy by spending his time outside maintaining the family farm and holiday cottages. Prior to his cancer diagnosis, Paul was a keen runner and used to run three half-marathons every year, the last he was able to take part in being the Porter’s Half Marathon in August 2023.

Paul said: “I visited my GP when I first became concerned about what I was seeing. They seemed relaxed about my symptoms but I wasn’t convinced and I welcomed taking part in the bowel cancer screening. It can seem like an inconvenience, but it’s saved my life.

“Without that screening, my cancer might not have been picked up in time and while I’ve been left with a permanent stoma, doctors say if I’d been diagnosed just a few months later, my prognosis would have been far worse.

“I’m happy to tell my story following Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Early detection is the key to beating cancer. Screening is easy and saves people from surgery and other invasive treatment if caught early enough. I’d urge anyone to take part in screening when invited to do so. You’ll be glad you did and put your own mind at rest or potentially save your life and spare you and your family the upset that goes with a cancer diagnosis.

“I know I’m lucky, screening caught my cancer when it did, but I had also gone along to my GP to report symptoms – that’s also something everyone should do. It’s important to be firm and not to take no for an answer until your concerns are satisfied.

“I want answers, but I’d like to help others along the way too. There’s no doubt this has had a massive impact on my life, but my family has been such a tremendous support. Help is available for everyone and people should come forward to be screened, confident that no one is left to go through this alone.”

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month runs throughout April every year. More information can be found on the website of the charity Bowel Cancer UK at www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk

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