Doctors dismissed my symptoms as IBS 3 times before giving me 6 months to live – surgery left me ‘gutted like a fish'

The Irish Sun

23-07-2025

A FIT and healthy dad was dismissed by medics three times and told he had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
He was later diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given six months to live.
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Austin Birks had always been committed to keeping himself in good shape as the owner of a karate club
Credit: Cover Images
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He noticed his bowel habits began to change in 2018
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Doctors initially said he had IBS, but scans later revealed it was stage 4 bowel cancer
Credit: Cover Images
Austin Birks, 65, was immediately concerned when his
As the CEO of a large human resources company, but also a karate teacher, owning his own karate club, Enso Karate Club in Birmingham, Austin is committed to keeping himself in good shape.
The regularity and appearance of his stool was different, and he also noticed blood when he went to the toilet.
Austin, from Clent in Worcestershire, went to his GP who told him he probably had
Read more on bowel cancer
But nothing made any difference so Austin went back only to be dismissed again.
When he returned for the third time, a stool sample was taken - only for it to be lost at the hospital.
'By that time, I felt like I was in deep trouble because I'd been losing weight and been feeling a lot of fatigue and those kind of symptoms,' Austin says.
'My girlfriend at the time, Yvonne, encouraged me to get a CT scan done quickly.'
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The private scan revealed a very large tumour in his bowel.
Doctors asked him to come in immediately, and he underwent major surgery because the cancer had also burst through the bowel wall.
Diagnosed with bowel cancer at 22
'The wonderful surgeon managed to get rid of the tumour and did her very best, and then I embarked on a series of chemotherapy treatments,' Austin said.
'Within three or four months, much to my amazement and delight, my oncologist, the brilliant Dr Peter Correa, said to me 'it looks like against all odds, the cancer's gone'.
'As you can imagine, that was fantastic
news
.'
Back with a vengeance
But only three months later, Austin went back for another scan only to find that actually, the cancer was back with a vengeance - and it had spread.
Another surgery was scheduled, but as it was during the Covid pandemic, the night before the operation Austin was called to say there were no beds for him.
He was then advised in order to undergo surgery quickly, he'd have to pay for it privately, and that it would cost £51,000.
Fortunately, his family helped him raise the
money
in 24 hours.
"I went and had the surgery with two surgeons," said Austin.
'It took five and a half hours, and when I came around, I remember the one surgeon saying to me, 'how do you feel?'
'I said, 'a bit sore', because I'd had about sixty odd stitches.
'The surgeon said 'yes, well, you've been gutted like a fish! The surgery went well - I'll shake you by the hand.'
'I said we shouldn't because of Covid and he joked: 'I've had my hands in your stomach for the last five hours so it won't make too much of a difference!''
Remaining positive
Austin came home, recovered and started another round of chemotherapy. Amazingly, within a few months, a scan showed the cancer had gone.
But devastatingly, three months later, another scan showed that cancer had come back in two places.
He's now undergone 120 rounds of intensive chemotherapy, as well as radiotherapy - and even had to battle sepsis and blood poisoning at the same time.
But despite his ordeal, Austin is determined to remain positive and has even engaged in stand-up comedy three times to raise money for Cancer Research UK to try to see the light in his situation.
Despite his initial misdiagnosis, he can't speak highly enough of the care he's had from the NHS since finding out he had cancer.
He is also hugely grateful to his family and friends.
'I've been very fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful people, and when I have dark moments I go back to all those people, their messages, all that care and that love, and it just sustains you,' he said.
'Plus, the National
Health
Service has been absolutely magnificent, and I can't fault the South
Warwickshire
University Foundation Trust and the amazing cancer teams at Warwick and Stratford Hospitals.'
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Austin was initially given six months to live and has undergone 120 rounds of intensive chemotherapy, as well as radiotherapy - he even had to battle sepsis
Credit: Cover Images
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He's now outlived his prognosis and is passionate about raising awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms
Credit: Cover Images
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He;s now taking part in a 37-mile cycling challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK
Credit: Cover Images
He's outlived his initial prognosis and is passionate about raising awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms.
'My oncologist said to me that I had a 25 percent chance of lasting two years, but I just didn't believe it was me,' Austin said.
'I had this strong sense of needing to get through this.
'It will be seven years in September with cancer, and I think one of the key things I've learned is your mental and physical strength are absolutely vital to survive.'
Austin also blogs about his experience, returned to teaching karate just six weeks after his first operation, and remains committed to staying active.
He's taking part in the static bike Tour de 4 as hip issues now prevent him from road cycling, while his brother, Chris Birks, 67, a retired RAF group captain and former station commander of RAF Kinloss, takes on a 37-mile challenge in solidarity, all in aid of Cancer Research UK.
'Since I got cancer, I decided I wanted to try and use it as productively as I could,' Austin explained.
'I try to make my blogs engaging, entertaining and humorous, but at the same time, I don't sugarcoat cancer either: I write about the good, the bad, and the ugly."
'Seek help as early as possible'
Austin's message to others is to seek help as early as possible if you notice any unusual symptoms.
'If you're in any doubt at all, if you think you might have changing bowel habits, then don't keep quiet, don't be shy and don't be embarrassed, which a lot of people are,' he said.
'As soon as you come out with it and tell the doctor, the quicker the care you can get and the more chance of recovery you have.
'You know your body, and if things change, and you recognise the symptoms, seek help, be persistent, and if you're unhappy, get a second
opinion
because the sooner you get identified, then the sooner you get treated.
"Every single doctor and nurse has just been great - I've been gobsmacked at the care, the attention and the devotion that I've received from people across the NHS.
'If you have any worries, see the doctor and let the machinery take over because they're really good and they know what they're doing.
'You may have one or two negative experiences on the journey, but the quicker you're in that process, the better.'
Austin feels that despite his struggles, he's also learned valuable lessons.
'You change your values quite significantly when you're facing this,' he added.
'What suddenly yesterday was important no longer matters at all.
'What really matters is those you care for and those who care for you. As a proud dad to a daughter, I need to keep fighting for her as well as her mum, my family and my friends.
'I most certainly will keep true to my mantra of never give up, never give in!'
Donate to Austin and Chris's fundraiser via
You can find his blog at
What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer?
IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough.
While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease.
Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver.
If you notice any of the signs, don't be embarrassed and don't ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example
Pain or a lump in your tummy
Extreme tiredness
Losing weight
Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs include:
Gripping pains in the abdomen
Feeling bloated
Constipation and being unable to pass wind
Being sick
Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo
While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools.
But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease.