Northants dad of two raises awareness of bowel cancer
Glenn Utteridge was diagnosed with bowel cancer after a crash on his bike in 2023.
A Northamptonshire father of two wants to see screening ages lowered, after a freak accident led to his stage four bowel cancer diagnosis.
Glenn Utteridge was knocked off his bike in early 2023, leading to him being hospitalised. That was were his bowel cancer was discovered.
He has a rare BRAF mutation which is hard to treat via standard treatments, and which has average survival rates typically measured in months.
In December 2023 NHS England expanded their home testing for bowel cancer to catch disease earlier. But this is open to those aged 54 and above.
Glenn is 44 years old. He says he had no symptoms and wasn't in any at risk groups, as he led an active healthy lifestyle.
Since his most recent hospitalisation he's set up the website Glenn the Cancer Warrior with sections for support and further information for younger people like him with this bowel cancer diagnosis.
Glenn's fundraising for treatment which isn't available here, and has so far been to Japan to be treated. He wants to see more progression on bowel cancer treatments here in the UK.
A bike Everest challenge is being organised with friends, to cycle the equivalent height of Everest here in the UK.
Glenn says any extra funds will go to the Als Pals Cancer Support Charity (a growing local charity who cover the Beds, Bucks, Herts and Northants regions.)
Though his cancer is inoperable Glenn says he's not ready to die yet.