Don't ignore cancer signs, says former Town chairman

A former Ipswich Town chairman has encouraged people not to ignore the warning signs of bowel cancer after he was recently diagnosed.

David Sheepshanks, who was Town's chairman from 1995 to 2009, told the BBC he was diagnosed with cancer in February.

The 73-year-old said he had delayed using a test kit for months and had now "paid the price".

He recently had a six-hour surgery to remove a tumour and believed he was now on the mend.

The NHS offers a bowel cancer test kit to those aged 50 to 74, and those registered with a GP will automatically get it through the post.

According to the NHS, bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, and the risk of getting it increases with age.

Sheepshanks said over the years he had done several tests which had come back clear.

His last kit arrived in December, but he said he delayed it despite noticing blood in his stool.

"Do them, that's my message," he said.

"I've done them in the past, but the last one came before Christmas, and I delayed it.

"I was convinced that I had haemorrhoids, and it wasn't.

"When I finally went to have it checked.. they said, 'If you'd have come three months earlier, we could have done this easily via local [anaesthetic]'.

"The result is that I didn't go earlier, it's my fault, and I paid the price."

Sheepshanks was in hospital for two weeks after his tumour was removed, and he will now undergo chemotherapy, which he described as a "blow".

"But I'm getting better, and I will beat it," he added.

He felt that if sharing his experience could save one life, "it's worth it".

Sheepshanks explained that George Burley, former Town manager and player, had provided him with support after also battling cancer in 2024.

"When I was diagnosed, and he heard, he was one of the first people to ring me.

"He's rung several times since and sent lovely messages of support and encouragement," Sheepshanks continued.

"So I can't thank George enough. He's had pancreatic cancer, which is even harder, and he's got through it.

"It's sheer strength, will and courage, and I hope I can share the same."

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