<div>Hello all, Simon here, I was formally diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer back in January’24 following various tests back late ‘23. Was it, is it rare? All I know is that every Cancer sufferer has their own unique story, all I can do is “show up”.




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<div>Luckily nothing had spread, it was all localised and I was to have a neck dissection. Yes, it’s still numb today and I have 75% use out of shoulder area but I’ll take it. Following this, it was recovery and 1 year of immunotherapy to reboot. This had complications(joints) and I had to start taking steroids to have some sort of existence. I’m a Tennis Coach by trade. Unfortunately, following a CT scan and a consultation on 28th Nov’24 I received news that I had 2 minuscule melanoma cells in my brain. The consultants reassured me that following my neck procedure this was not uncommon. “zap it out under gamma knife radiotherapy” on the 13th Dec’24 and then we’ll look at another course/plan of action re immunotherapy in 2025…




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<div>I really do feel I’ve been “bumbling” along, just showing up under the watchful eye of Mount Vernon(Paul Strickland Cancer Centre-PSCC). Whilst doing all I can to keep the money rolling in and NOT asking for any outside help.




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<div>When does my “journey” start was a question I continued to ask.




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<div>Well, here I am today baring all before you asking for your support to help rebuild mine and my families life back to some kind of normality.




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<div>It was decided that there’s a NEW Double Drug(Nivolumab and Ipilimumab) with great results and this was my plan of action. Most patients will have 2/3 doses of this every 3 weeks. My first dose was on the 4th March’25 and was told about the many side effects, the main one to avoid was dodgy bowels!! If this was to occur then you need to speak to our team straight away. After a week, it happened and I was back at PSCC straight away. Plan of action, increase the steroids(prednisone) to 100mg and they’d call me on a daily basis for my “routine/flow chart). This went on for a week and no real change until there was absolutely NO flow, my bowels had packed up? I was now vomiting!! I was now at Watford General Hospital, still under the watchful eye of PSCC having a daily dose(intravenously) of 200mg of prednisone. I am now out after a 9 day ordeal.(17th March-25th March).




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<div>I felt numb, battered, lethargic, all these things. Was this just the fact that I’d been in hospital? No, it was the heavy heavy dosage of prednisone that I was on to help combat my inflamed bowels, this was now effecting my nerve endings massively. I have no power/drive in my legs and as for my hands, it’s a wander I’m still typing.




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<div>This is the first time in 40 years I’ve had to come face to face with real adversity. I’ve questioned who I am several times, I’ve tried defining myself several times. I’m a Tennis Coach with wobbly legs and a right hand that can hardly pick up a racket-let alone show any sort of intricacy but I’d still try and swing a positive out of it, try and laugh it off. Deep down I’m not ok, I’ve been stripped of my identity. I’ll be honest, the 10 day period after leaving hospital I’d just burst into tears.




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<div>Today I’m adding to my story, 22nd October, while I’m able to understand my limitations physically, it still doesn’t make it ok? Following a 3rd attempt at immunotherapy on the 3rd July’25 I found myself back in hospital with the same reaction as before(16th-25th Aug’25).  My treatment has to stop again while I wean myself off the steroids-not far to go, I’m on 40mg. Not much has changed since April then although I do have a better understanding of my skin/infections that are “rife” throughout my body. 3/10 is a very good day, I’ll get there but I have to be realistic. 



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<div>I am not a dweller, I have so much to be positive about, I’m lucky, I have a great family around me, my friends have been overwhelming amazing-they keep me positive, “rock bottom” will never ever happen with my network.  



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<div>This said, a recent routine CT/MRI scan on the 6th October picked up on blood clotting on my right lung and a bleed on the brain, the latter due to unnecessary stress/noise that’s beyond my control unfortunately. Obviously when you get told this news, it’s not great BUT what can you do? Life continues and I self inject twice a day with Fragmin in the hope that my bleed subsides. The clotting, I understand is controllable.



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<div>Physically I’m way off. Mentally, although been tested of late, I don’t think I’ve ever felt stronger. Some of you may have seen my Online website that I’ve been working on since my first visit to hospital. Do follow Bumblez on Facebook, LinkedIn at the moment. Instagram and TikTok to follow. <b>This, I’m very proud of and it’s so close to taking off. My USP are my 2 fantastic products, The Retenser Pro and The Co-branded BumblezxS’wheat Water Bottle. The sale of each I will be donating up to 10% to 3 charities that have helped me through this difficult period in my life.</b><span><b> </b></span><br />



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<div>My financial status has already taken a massive hit with my physicalities as they are, a successful lesson is me not falling over. <b>My time on court, earning capacity, I have to be real here is just not enough. Please help me, in turn, help others, I’m 1 BumblezxS’wheat Water Bottle order away from making a real difference.</b>



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<div>I’ve received so much support(medically) from the NHS and of course, MacMillan will forever be close to me. They have already received large donations. <b>Today, 10% of your donations will be going to Mind. I think I’ve exhausted my mind to its fullest of late.
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<div>I thank you all for listening to my story, please please help me today and I know when it’s your turn you can call on me.




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<div>Much love, Simon




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Anonymous

Daniel Knight

Mark Knight

Bridget Adamson

Helen Webb

vicky inness

Andrew Scholfield

Rosie Teper

Dawn Harrison

Daniel Gilbert

Valerie Gale

James Bowler

A BARRET

Francesca Barham

Matthew Hunt

Julie Barraclough

Simon Bowler “the start of my journey” and only 17 months in

Simon Bowler “the start of my journey” and only 17 months in

Still £1,151 to go. Help us build momentum.