‘Fit and healthy’ bowel cancer patient who was given incurable diagnosis only had two very unusual symptoms
ArchiveFirst published June 19, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
Ollie Tetlow, a fit dad-of-two from London, was stunned to learn he had incurable stage four bowel cancer last year — with only two unusual warning signs.
At 42, Ollie was running up to 15k three times a week and felt healthy until January 2024. Then he noticed his energy dropping in the afternoons, along with night sweats and mild fevers. Later, strange shoulder and back pain appeared, which doctors linked to liver inflammation from hidden cancer.
A routine blood test revealed abnormal liver function, and scans found over 100 cancer spots. He was just weeks from liver failure. Shockingly, Ollie never had common bowel cancer signs like blood in stool or stomach pain. He’s now had 28 rounds of chemo and stays active, still running and DJing.
This week, he faces surgery to remove his primary tumour and hopes for a liver transplant trial. Ollie and his wife have raised over £50,000 for the Bowelbabe Fund. He urges others: “If you have symptoms, get checked. Life doesn’t stop with cancer — I’m still living my dream.”
