Tennis champ gets tipsy after one beer...it was a sign of deadly cancer that's rising in young people
But oddly, the first sign something was wrong was a strange inability to hold his drink.
In October 2023, Simon Bowler, 50, started to notice he was feeling drunk after just one glass of red wine.
The tennis coach, from Thorley Wood, Hertfordshire, said: 'I can usually drink a bottle of wine and not feel anything.'
Within a week, a lump appeared on his neck, which was initially dismissed as a cyst by doctors.
This was coupled by a 'strange head fuzz', as well as blurred vision in the evening, which left him 'struggling to relax'.
Simon wasn't convinced that the cyst on his neck was 'harmless', and eventually returned to his GP who referred him for an ultrasound scan, followed by a biopsy of the growth.
The tests eventually revealed the cyst was in fact melanoma—the deadliest type of skin cancer that kills more than 2,000 Britons every year and is on the rise in those under 65.
Simon, who is being supported by his wife Tracey, said of his devastating diagnosis: 'I was driving to work when I got a call from my doctor.
'He asked if I was sitting down. I told him I was driving, and he asked me to pull over.
'Then I knew it was bad news. He said they suspected cancer.'
In February 2024, Simon underwent a successful operation to remove both the initial and secondary lumps in his neck.
Four months later he began a year-long course of immunotherapy to prevent recurrence and started a regular schedule of routine MRI and CT scans to monitor for changes.
But within nine months the cancer had spread to his brain—and suddenly some of the symptoms he had been experiencing began to make sense.
Simon said: 'To be honest, I didn't feel right in my head.
'I started having blurred vision again, and I couldn't switch off at night.'
The following month, Simon underwent a highly targetted form of radiotherapy to blast the tumour in his brain, and eventually resumed immunotherapy drugs.
But after just one dose of the drug in March 2025, Simon became violently ill and was unable to use the toilet due to his bowel not functioning properly.
He was hospitalised for 10 days and placed on a high dose of steroids to help combat the symptoms, which caused severe nerve damage to his legs and hands.
Simon said: 'I felt numb, battered. It was like I'd been hit by a truck.
'I've got wobbly legs now and a right hand that can barely grip a racket, let alone type. But I'm still trying.
'That hospital stay nearly broke me. When I got home, I'd just burst into tears for days. It stripped away everything that felt like me.'
Simon is currently taking a pause from treatment and meeting with his oncology team to determine the next steps.
Half of those with melanoma that's spread to other parts of the body will not survive longer than five years, according to studies.
Melanoma is caused by cellular damage from UV and UVB rays from the sun and tanning beds.
And recent research suggests that the disease is on the rise in younger people.
Earlier this year, researchers from the US found that cases of five particular cancers were rising in adults under 50: melanoma, along with cervical cancer, stomach cancer, cancer of the bones and joints, and plasma cell neoplasms—a type of cancer affecting the lymph system.
Meanwhile, seperate UK studies have identified a seven per cent rise in young people, aged 25-49 over the last decade.
A common misconception is that melanoma solely affects the skin on the face, body, and limbs, but it can also develop on other areas vulnerable to sun damage—the mouth, scalp, nail beds, soles of the feet, palm of the hands and fingers.
To avoid the disease, experts advise using sunscreen with a high SPF, applying it 30 minutes before going outside, covering up as much as possible to avoid sunburn, and keeping babies and children out of the sun.
In May, Simon launched a GoFundMe page, which has now raised nearly £7,000.
He's using the funds to start a new business selling tennis accessories and plans to donate a portion of sales to Macmillan, the NHS, and mental health charities.
'It's OK to cry,' he said. 'It's OK to admit you're not OK.
'I've been stripped of a lot of my identity—but I haven't lost my will to keep going.'
'I just want to get back to helping people, mentoring young players, and showing them what resilience looks like.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
DR SARAH JARVIS: You pledged to act, Wes... yet 2,500 have died from this preventable problem while you've sat on your hands
I've lost count of the number of people – and it's usually women – who come to my clinic after having suffered several painful fractures. Some, in their 50s and otherwise in perfect health, have stumbled and injured a wrist or cracked a rib. For others it might be their third or fourth break in a matter of months, and they're coming to me wondering why. The stories are strikingly similar. They will have been to A&E multiple times over the years, or been suffering severe back pain. And all of this will have had a devastating impact on their mood, relationships, their ability to live their lives normally and, crucially, their ability to work. It's heart-breaking to see, and as a GP I know that these issues are a red flag for a common but horrendous condition which causes bones to thin and weaken – osteoporosis. When I refer them for a DEXA scan – a type of X-ray which measures the density of bone – lo and behold, they are finally diagnosed. But in some parts of the country just getting that appointment can take up to two years. For many of the 3.5 million people diagnosed with osteoporosis in the UK, it comes too late for treatment that can help protect against loss of bone density. Many end up suffering for years, in pain, becoming increasingly disabled and shuffling into an early grave. But on Thursday, when the Government published its Ten-Year Health Plan, there was no mention of osteoporosis. Other conditions, such as HIV, cancer and diabetes, got a mention. But not this one, which affects half of all women and one fifth of men. That is why, this weekend, more than 100 of my colleagues – NHS doctors and hospital workers – have written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting urging him to finally make good on his pre-election commitment to prioritise early diagnosis for osteoporosis by rolling out Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) across England. These screening clinics save lives by picking up the disease early, and prioritising people for safe, effective bone-sparing drugs. Right now, only half of England's NHS Trusts have one, leading to an unacceptable postcode lottery across the country and putting people at risk. As our letter reminds Mr Streeting, plugging those gaps where FLS is absent is crucial, because delay causes harm and costs lives. The late diagnosis of osteoporosis leads to avoidable fractures, loss of independence, long-term disability and, in many cases, premature death. In the past year alone, while Mr Streeting has sat on his hands, around 2,500 people have died due to preventable hip fractures alone. He has said the rollout will happen by 2030, but this delay could mean a further 12,500 deaths which FLS could have avoided. And there will have been 74,000 preventable fractures, including 31,000 life-threatening hip fractures, which will take up to 750,000 bed days. Those are beds the NHS sorely needs. That is unacceptable, not to mention unimaginably tragic for those needlessly affected. So while Mr Streeting might say in the Ten-Year Plan he is committed to prevention, when it comes to osteoporosis that couldn't be further from the truth. It's all the more baffling because rolling out FLS is an easy win. It would cost £30 million – 1.5 per cent of the £2 billion the NHS spends annually to treat hip fractures. But studies show that a single FLS covers its cost after just 18 to 24 months – and after that saves the NHS money by reducing the number of hospital beds required for fracture patients. And Mr Streeting knows all this. When he was in Opposition, he talked about it endlessly. After the Conservative government said it would roll out FLS, he criticised it for being too slow. Then, in May 2024, he promised that should Labour win the upcoming General Election, it would fully fund them. The following month, taking a more personal tone, he went further, telling this newspaper that it would be one of his first acts in Government because a close relative had broken a hip after becoming a victim of the postcode lottery for bone-density scans. But after Labour won the Election in July, it went quiet. To add insult to injury – quite literally – he was caught on video in January mocking charities for campaigning to improve the lives of patients, sarcastically singling out the Royal Osteoporosis Society as the 'worst offender' when it came to 'lobbying' the Government. Only in February did he finally say the FLS plan would be implemented 'by 2030', but it came with no indication as to how this would be achieved. Today, even after the Ten-Year Plan has been punished, that remains the case. This ongoing failure to drive this forward is a huge blow for those yet to be diagnosed with osteoporosis – they can get access to safe, effective medication only if they're diagnosed. I know this, unfortunately, from my own personal experience with this disease. In early 2023 I asked my GP for a DEXA scan after a friend fractured a wrist and hip playing tennis. I was found to have the bones of a 90-year-old, despite then being 60 (I'm now 62), and was diagnosed with the disease. And I know I was lucky. I got the right treatment to improve my bone density – and I've still never had a fracture. Without that early knowledge, I'd have likely suffered multiple breaks by now. Every day, every week, every month this Government delays rolling out FLS, more people suffer preventable injuries – an own goal, because it then costs them more to treat them. If you have a hip fracture, you're up to eight times more likely to die within three months, and three to four times more likely to die within a year. Three quarters of those who fracture a hip never have the same level of independence. The human misery this causes is horrendous. Yet FLS would save the NHS £440 million over five years and free up 36,000 hospital beds every winter. Quite simply, this isn't something that can wait. There is the political will, Mr Streeting, but we now need an urgent way forward.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
I put three cleansers that also remove your make-up to the test
MY skincare routine is very low maintenance and I don't buy into double cleansing. With the right formula, you can remove your make-up and clean your face in just one step. It's faster and saves space and money. This week, I test out three. Budget Curél Hydrating Make-up Cleanser, £16.50, 200ml, Boots: 4 I never thought I'd like a cleanser you didn't have to use in tandem with a flannel and warm water – but this clever product has changed that completely. Thanks to the hydrating formula, you can go rinse-free and your skin won't end up dry or rough, which is a revelation. I've been using it for a couple of weeks, and the convenience of being able to sit in bed while removing my make-up with a cotton pad is unrivalled. It also means any excuses of being too tired/drunk/lazy to cleanse my face are redundant. Mid-range Designed to be truly universal, it's suitable for dry, oily, combination, acne-prone and sensitive skin – which is no mean feat. It's the only cleanser I've been loyal to for the last few years, going back to it frequently as I know my skin will appreciate it. True to its name, it has a milky consistency that lightly foams but doesn't dry skin out, removing every last scrap of make-up and grime in less than a minute. With every day use, a tube lasts me a good few months, so I don't mind paying slightly more as I know it works and will last. It's a pair of safe hands. We tried six lipsticks we'd never normally go for - here's what worked & what didn't Luxury 4 This was the only cleanser I used for five years when I had severe cystic acne, so I needed a face wash that would clean my skin without too much rubbing – as touching my skin caused more inflammation. I recently rediscovered the thick-gel formula, and it's just as good as I remember. On contact with skin, it quickly turns into a rich foam that dissolves grime and sloughs away dead skin cells thanks to the exfoliating acid ingredient. It's best for oily skin or when you're wearing lots of make-up. Pick of the week RoC Lip Volumizer, £29.99, 10ml, I keep a wide berth from any lip products labelled as 'plumping'. I have chronically dry lips and a very low spice tolerance, so they're usually more hassle than they're worth – but I've just found one that works, and doesn't cause me pain. This product contains peptides and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, and a plumping complex that delivers a noticeable difference in three minutes.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
My secret married lover is being treated for cancer – and I'm heartbroken that I can't visit him
DEAR DEIDRE: MY secret lover is being treated for cancer and I'm heartbroken that I can't visit him. This is not your usual seedy affair. We met through work ten years ago and this man has been the love of my life, my soulmate, ever since. I'm 45 and he's 56. During our decade together, he has married his wife, with whom he has three children. But we speak or see each other every day. It's not just physical, even though the intimate side of our relationship is electric. After sex, we often lie in each other's arms for hours, softly laughing and kissing, until he has to leave. We love each other. But I was the person who told him to see the doctor. I was kissing his shoulder and I noticed a mole looked red and raised. He said he hadn't been aware of it but I don't know why his wife hadn't noticed it. Following tests, he made a brief phone call to me, saying he'd been admitted to hospital with stage-three skin cancer. Since then, I've heard nothing. I'm in pieces — I don't know how to get news on how he is. I can't visit him in case I bump into his wife and kids. I can't ask our HR team for too many updates without them suspecting we're more than just colleagues — workplace relationships aren't allowed. I'm in limbo. My friends aren't sympathetic because they say he has strung me along for years. But I know he loves me. Spotting the signs your partner is cheating My worst fear is that he will die, and I won't know until it's too late to go to his funeral. What can I do? Sadly, skin-cancer rates are rising in the UK. And melanoma, the dead-liest form of it, is the fifth most common cancer in the UK. Over the past decade, melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have increased by 32 per cent. You might very well have saved his life. Now for the bad news. It doesn't seem like he wants to spend that life with you. While you waited for your next snatched moment together, he married and had three children with someone else. You believe he's your soulmate – but would he agree? Life-threatening illnesses often cause people to take stock. I suggest you do the same. It's time to look for a new partner, one who will want you by their side every moment of their life, good and bad. Please read my support pack, Your Lover Not Free? to help you see things more clearly. I'VE LISTED ALL OF HER SEXCUSES We're both 28 and have been dating for two years. Six months ago we moved in together. Since then, we've only had sex on 12 occasions. The rest of the time, she makes excuses. I've started keeping a list. She has not wanted sex for the following reasons: Headache, backache, bloating, tiredness, alcohol, a sore knee, constipation, work stress, mosquitoes, bread and wanting to watch Clarkson's Farm. Early on, our sex life was spectacular. My girlfriend used to be adventurous and would often surprise me with a new technique or position. She was the most exciting woman I'd ever met and would do daring things like treat me to oral in the cinema, or fondle me while I drove. I expected the sex to get even wilder when we shared a home. My girlfriend is a high-earner so our new apartment has a balcony and a Jacuzzi bath. I had high hopes for the spicy action we would enjoy in both those locations, but sadly the only sex has been a rushed missionary session in bed. I've tried to show my affection by helping her with housework, or suggesting we order in a takeaway, but she seems permanently grumpy. It's making me feel rejected and resentful. It's like she pretended to be someone else for the first part of our relationship. DEIDRE SAYS: Destroy that list. She is not a malfunctioning sex bot. She's a real person with real feelings, and I suspect your entitlement might be the real turn-off here. When I look at her reasons for not wanting sex, I see an exhausted, overwhelmed person who is eating big dinners (like your takeaways) and probably doesn't feel relaxed and playful. You say you 'help' with house-work. Instead of helping, why not do at least half of it? She's more likely to see the erotic potential of a Jacuzzi bath when she's not the only one scrubbing it. I understand that your desire for sex goes beyond a physical urge. You want to feel close, connected and loved. But so does she. Unlike men, women often need to feel those emotions before they head to bed, and not afterwards. You see she's grumpy so ask why. Clean the house, book a date night, talk and turn off the TV. Become a warm, loving partner and your adventurous girlfriend will return. FAMILY FORUM DEAR DEIDRE: I WANT to move in with my boyfriend, but I'm scared my son's behaviour will drive us apart. My son is nine and I'm 34. My boyfriend is 37 and lives with his teenage daughter. Even though he can be funny and loving, my son has always been a handful. When he was a toddler, I would get calls from his childminder to say he'd been fighting or shouting at other kids. He would never sit still and easily lost his temper. My son was six when I split up from his dad and became a single mum. I've struggled to cope. I find myself giving in to whatever my son wants, just for an easier life. Now, he calls me names, insults me, and helps himself to anything he wants from the kitchen or my handbag. When he's happy, he's great company. But then a switch will flip and he'll be spiteful or break something. His dad has a new family now and rarely sees him. My new boyfriend and I met a year ago through a dating app for single parents. I immediately liked how hands-on he was as a parent, having his daughter three or four nights every week. My boyfriend wants me and my son to move in. I'd love to, but I have hidden the worst of my son's behaviour from him. When my boyfriend sees what my son can be like, I'm scared he'll lose interest in both of us. I don't know what to do. DEIDRE SAYS: The more positive role models your son has in his life, the better. Long-term, your boyfriend could be an excellent influence. In the short term, I'd focus on getting your son more support, rather than any more change. Has his school ever suggested an assessment for ADHD or autism? Some of his behaviour could suggest he's neurodivergent, so that might be a sensible first step. Find a club he might be interested in, such as martial arts or Cubs, to give him the opportunity to make friends outside of his school classroom. At home, set boundaries and a routine that you can both stick to. Reward him for good behaviour. HAUNTED BY OVERDOSING FEARS DEAR DEIDRE: THE only way to find peace from my drug-addict boyfriend was to leave him, move away and switch off my phone. Now I'm haunted by fears of him overdosing. I'm 23, he's 27 and we were great together for three years. But his recreational drug use crept up until he was doing very hard drugs. I tried to get him help, but he would skip hospital or counselling appointments to hang out with his dealer. Finally, I snapped. I moved away, leaving him and everyone I knew behind. I switched off my phone to stop him calling. I know I made the right move, but who will ensure he is safe now? DEIDRE SAYS: It was his choice to ignore your help. I understand your fears but his health isn't your responsibility. Talking about your worries can help a lot. – 0808 802 6666 – provides a free listening ear for family and relationship problems. You could also contact for people affected by a partner's drug abuse. Can I sue hospital? DEAR DEIDRE: I GOT laughed out of A&E for a 'superficial cut' – then had my arm amputated for gangrene. Can I sue the hospital? I sliced my little finger on a veg knife. The cut didn't heal, and after a few days I couldn't sleep because it was throbbing so badly. Panicking, I drove myself to A&E. After a long wait, I got laughed at by a doctor, who told me: 'Try a plaster.' When I insisted something was wrong, he called security to escort me out. The cut got worse and I ended up developing gan-grene. I had to have the arm amputated above the elbow. I'm still in pain, I've lost my job and my mental health has really suffered. Can I take legal action? DEIDRE SAYS: That is a tragic tale. You might have grounds to sue. The first step would be to contact The Patients Association ( where you can speak to a trained adviser. You can also get useful information on how to make a complaint, through the Patient Advice and Liaison Service, PALS, via
