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A man who pursued bodybuilding as a passion found himself battling for his life in his 30s when his bowel cancer went undetected, nearly taking him to the brink of death. Mat Dean, at the age of 39 in 2022, was heavily focused on training for a bodybuilding competition, appearing strong and healthy on the surface. Unknown to him, a cancerous tumor lurked within him, threatening his very existence. Reflecting on this time, Mat expressed, “I looked great, I felt great at that time. But little did I know I had a cancerous tumor inside me that was going to try and kill me.”
Despite enduring multiple surgeries to address the spread of cancer to his bladder and liver, Mat considers himself fortunate to have survived the ordeal and lived to share his story. Following a scan in which a large tumor in his bowel was detected alongside its spread to his liver, Mat underwent a significant surgery in February 2023 to have the tumor and his bladder removed. The procedure resulted in him having two stoma bags, a new reality he had to come to terms with in order to move forward with his life.
The difficulties Mat faced were not limited to the physical aspects of his condition but extended to the emotional toll it took on him and his loved ones. Informing his partner, Holly, about his diagnosis was one of the toughest moments for Mat. Wrestling with denial, secrecy, and anger, he navigated through a turbulent period while Holly cared for their young daughter. Recollections of early conversations reveal the mix of emotions that accompanied their journey through the illness.
Mat’s experience sheds light on the importance of early detection and age-appropriate screening for bowel cancer. With the rise in diagnoses of colorectal cancer in younger individuals, medical experts emphasize the need for increased awareness and vigilance across all age groups. As Mat looks ahead to the future, having been cancer-free for two years and with plans for a wedding in 2027 with his fiancée Holly, he advocates for proactive health monitoring to prevent others from enduring the same hardships he faced
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