Rugby captain, 31, thought he was ‘just tired’ – then diagnosed with bowel cancer

A sports-mad father of two is urging youngsters with unusual fatigue to visit their GP after his doctor dismissed his bowel cancer as an iron deficiency.

Andrew Walker, 31, from Yorkshire, was diagnosed with the deadly disease earlier this year after suffering weeks of debilitating exhaustion.

In addition to fatigue, the avid rugby player also struggled to recover from injuries, such as wound injections and lung punctures.

However, a GP said he was likely suffering from anaemia; a condition where a deficiency of iron in the body leads to a decrease in the number of red blood cells needed for energy.

When the symptoms persisted, the doctors suggested that the structural engineer take a stool sample. Traces of blood were found in the sample.

He was sent to hospital for further tests, which eventually revealed that he had colon cancer, a condition that is becoming increasingly common in people under the age of 50.

Andrew Walker is a keen rugby player and a healthy father of two. Yet, at the age of 31, he was diagnosed with bowel cancer despite having no bowel problems.

The rugby captain subsequently underwent surgery to remove half of his bowel, as well as nearby lymph nodes, in case the cancer had spread.

He is currently awaiting test results which will determine whether he needs further treatment.

While in the UK only five per cent of people with bowel cancer are under 50, the number of cases among younger people is increasing.

According to figures from Cancer Research, the number of adults diagnosed with the disease in the UK rose by 22 per cent between the early 1990s and 2018.

Experts aren’t sure why, but some suspect the increase is due to the growing popularity of ultra-processed foods.

Andrew, who plays for Bradford Dudley Hill RLFC in West Yorkshire, said he “couldn’t cope” with the news when he was diagnosed and was shocked.

“I was expecting to get a scan, get some samples taken and go home. I didn’t expect it to be a whirlwind.”

Andrew has two sons with his wife Becki and says his diagnosis has changed the lives of his family and teammates.

Andrew started feeling tired earlier this year and found it strange that rugby injuries that he normally recovers from quickly, such as a blow to his eye, were now taking so long.

Andrew then cut his finger and it became infected. He had to stay in hospital for eleven nights and had four operations because the doctors could not fight the bacteria.

Although the “random injuries” were not related to his colon cancer, he says his body “couldn’t recover” as it fought the disease.

“I attribute it to my busy lifestyle and fatigue,” he said. “And I also attribute it to being a little bit older.”

Shortly after his diagnosis, Andrew was forced to tell his teammates, in what he says was one of the “hardest conversations” he’s ever had.

Andrew is currently awaiting results to determine whether he will need further treatment as half of his intestines and lymph nodes have been removed.

When Andrew first heard the devastating news, he struggled to process it, asking the specialist if he could ‘come back later’.

‘I’ve known some of the guys for years and they were all so shocked and upset by it.

“It affected them a lot, kind of like it affected my family. We’re such a close team and we’re like a family.”

Bradford Dudley Hill RLFC are hosting a charity tournament for Andrew on September 27th.

Andrew, who is married to Becki, 42, encourages people with symptoms to get tested as soon as possible.

He said, ‘I would say go get tested, if you’re not sure, get a blood test. It takes a minute and can pick up early signs.

‘It’s not just about the impact it has on you, it’s also about the impact it has on your family and friends.

‘If they detect cancer early, it is treatable.

‘Even if I get the green light, it’s not over yet, because you still have at least five years of testing.

“It’s good that they’re keeping an eye on you, but it does wear you out.”

‘The effect lasts longer.’