Nicky White contacted BowelScreen to offer to share his cancer-survival after an off-the-cuff remark from his surgeon.
“At the appointment following my surgery, Consultant Surgeon Professor Fiachra Cooke, from Wexford General Hospital, said I should become an ambassador. He said I’d be an ideal person to spread the word,” Nicky said. “I was only too happy to get involved, so I emailed BowelScreen to see if I could help.”
Nicky’s email led to him becoming the face of BowelScreen during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in April. He told his powerful story in the Irish Daily Mail and Irish Times, appeared on Ireland AM and his local radio station South East Radio. Nicky and his wife Catherine were even invited to meet Stephen Donnelly, the Minister for Health, during his visit to Wexford General Hospital on Friday, 22 April.
Nicky, a retired postal worker from Cleariestown, Co. Wexford, was 64 when he had bowel cancer detected via screening in 2020. He had taken the at-home FIT kit test and when the results indicated a level of blood in his stool, he was offered a follow-up colonoscopy. It revealed a large cancerous tumour. Nicky had surgery followed by chemotherapy which he has completed, and thankfully he is now cancer free.
Nicky said: “During my treatment, my doctor told me that if I had been diagnosed six months later I wouldn’t be talking about treatment. Taking the screening test saved my life. I want to make sure other people like me know how important the screening test is.
“The day I was retiring from An Post, there was a presentation with 50 people there, mostly men, and at the end I said, ‘When you get to the age of 60* make sure you have the stick test – if I hadn’t done it I wouldn’t be here. When you get the letter through the post don’t be afraid to do it and don’t throw it in the bin.
“I’d hate to think that I’d have left my test in the cupboard and forgotten about it altogether. Luck was on my side.”
“I had some experience with the media through my involvement with an inter-county ladies GAA football and refereeing for 14 years. I even had the honour of refereeing the 1996 All-Ireland final draw and replay at Croke Park. I was still nervous enough before going on Ireland AM, but once I was on the sofa I was grand, and felt calm. The presenters really put me at ease and I was well prepared. I think I got my message across.
“A few friends sent me messages asking me about being on the telly and wondering why I hadn’t told them. When I met Stephen Donnelly he said how powerful the story was and that he’d read it in the Irish Times.
“I’m proud of being a voice for screening, despite it being about a sensitive subject, and my family are proud of me too. I was happy with everything that was printed about me in the newspapers. My cousin, who is a retired nurse, even contacted me to say that I was a powerful advocate for the cause of screening in men. Men are the world’s worst at looking after their health so I’d encourage them to get the test done.
“We kept it from my grandkids when I was sick, so when the little lad, who is eight, heard me on the radio he asked my wife Catherine if I was going to die and she said, ‘No, no, no.’ They were too busy jumping around excited about granddad being on the telly to hear what I said on Ireland AM. When they see it in years to come they will understand much better.
“It’s a year since I was the spokesperson for BowelScreen, I saw my oncologist recently and they were happy with everything. I’m making the most of life after cancer, going to all the matches and sporting events I can get to. I’m spending plenty of time with my grandchildren, going to their soccer, football, and hurling, A good few people came up to me after the campaign and said they did the test after seeing me. It’s good to know that I helped.
“I’d say to anyone interested in telling their story that they should just let themselves be guided by the HSE communications staff. There’s no need to dramatise the story, just tell it like it is and people will listen.”
The BowelScreen Programme, NSS communications and the HSE Press Office are sincerely grateful for Nicky’s help with the campaign and for telling his story.
After a hugely successful Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Nicky is now a BowelScreen Public Patient Representative so he can keep working towards a greater uptake of bowel screening.
*You can now get free bowel screening from age 59 to 69. This age range will change in 2024 and again in future years. Register with BowelScreen and keep up to date with the latest age range.
Can you help us tell the next BowelScreen patient story?
Many people want to give back after experiencing a good service but don’t know how. If you have a story to tell, or know of someone who would make a great ambassador for the programme and for cancer prevention, get in touch with us. The NSS and HSE Communications teams are on hand to support and offer expertise.
All we need is your story – in your own words.
Email us now to arrange a chat: communications@screeningservice.ie