How Macmillan supported Mohammad after his bowel cancer diagnosis

Published: 01 May 2025

40-year-old Mohammad, called the Macmillan Support Line for help when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, after months of misdiagnosis. He had previously enjoyed an active life but he is now disabled and living with a stoma, as a result of his treatment.

How Macmillan helped Mohammad through bowel cancer treatment, disability, and life with a stoma

A man is outside looking at the camera. He's wearing a light-coloured shirt and has a beard. There are trees behind him.

Mohammad was admitted to A&E after a bad reaction to his first round of chemotherapy for his bowel cancer. Further treatment, including surgery to remove a tumour, has left him unable to walk independently, so he now uses a stick and mobility scooter.

Mohammad had support from the Macmillan Support Line and Macmillan Nurses who helped to ‘smash barriers’ for him, including ensuring he was able to see his wife and religious advisors during a prolonged hospital stay. Mohammad has also had to navigate the added complexities of life with a stoma and now wants to help educate others.

A stoma (colostomy or illeostomy) is an opening made during surgery. It connects the bowel to the surface of the tummy. A disposable bag is worn over the stoma. We have more information about stomas.

“It is a disability, absolutely. I don’t think people recognise it. If I go into a toilet to change my bag, I use the disabled toilet to do so. Some don’t let you in unless you have the key and if you don’t have the key, you have to explain to them about the stoma.”

Mohammad is sharing his story as part of our Whoever You Are campaign.

“It is a disability, absolutely. I don’t think people recognise it. If I go into a toilet to change my stoma bag, I use the disabled toilet to do so."

How cancer impacts mental health – and how culture shapes the cancer experience

Mohammad is open about his mental health struggles since his bowel cancer diagnosis and has received counselling through Macmillan to support him through this. Like Mohammad, nearly three quarters of people living with cancer (72%) have one or more emotional concerns, including worry, fear or anxiety, sadness or depression, loss of confidence and loneliness.

He has also been vocal about cultural taboos and difficult conversations around cancer within his community, sharing: ‘’Within my household, we are religious and believe in God and that life itself is a test. It’s how we perform in those tests. We took it in our stride and looked at what this was trying to teach me.”

A man is sitting on a park bench. He has a walking stick next to him and a book in his hand.

“Within my community, people think illnesses are a form of punishment, something you may/not have done…they almost think it’s contagious’’

How cancer affects families – and why lived experience matters in shaping care

Mohammad is concerned about the impact his cancer diagnosis has on his loved ones, with his children aged 11 and 10, becoming young carers for their dad. “It’s been quite the ordeal for me and my family. My wife’s been a rock throughout, and my children have been my source of inspiration and strength.”

At Macmillan, we’re working with people and communities who have the worst cancer experiences and outcomes, from late diagnosis, to living with a disability, to find solutions that help them, using what we learn to influence changes in cancer care for everyone, everywhere.