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The Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Man, 50, who began feeling drunk after just one drink finds ‘strange' symptom is sign of something sinister
A MAN who started getting tipsy after a single drink discovered his bizarre symptom was a sign of cancer. Simon Bowler, 50, started feeling a "strange" head fuzz and began feeling drunk after just one alcoholic beverage in October 2023. 5 5 Within weeks, a lump appeared on his neck, which was initially dismissed as a cyst by doctors. But, after multiple visits to his GP, Simon was sent to OSD Healthcare, Hemel Hempstead, where an ultrasound revealed he had cancer. A biopsy later confirmed Simon had skin cancer and he underwent an operation to remove the lumps on his neck in February 2024. Simon, a tennis coach, from Thorley Wood, Hertfordshire, said: "I can usually drink a bottle of wine and not feel anything. "But after I noticed the lump in my neck, I realised I was getting drunk after just a glass of red wine. "I was experiencing blurred vision when trying to switch off from the day. I couldn't relax. "I felt a strange head fuzz - it lasted for a few weeks before I started taking steps to sort it out." After experiencing these bizarre symptoms, Simon visited his GP - who initially told him he had a cyst and a hernia. A few days later, he returned to the surgery, where the "harmless" cysts were upgraded to a branchial cleft cyst - a type of neck lump - and he was referred to OSD Healthcare, Hemel Hempstead. Simon said: "I had an ultrasound and a blood test. The ultrasound showed something suspicious, but I needed a biopsy to confirm the type of cancer. "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 and would need to do a biopsy." Amid the worrying news, Simon's blood tests came back showing nothing sinister and he underwent a biopsy in December 2023. The biopsy confirmed Simon had skin cancer. In February 2024, he underwent a successful operation at Lister Hospital in Stevenage to remove both the initial and secondary lumps. Simon said: "It was beautiful - the operation was successful as far as they were concerned. "However, it involved my neck being cut open, and I had over 100 stitches." Not the last of it... In June 2024, Simon began a year-long course of nine rounds of immunotherapy to prevent recurrence. It was also agreed that he would undergo routine CT and MRI scans to monitor his condition. Then, in late November 2024 - months after surgery and amid recovery - a routine scan revealed the cancer had spread to his brain. 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. "You cross your fingers that it's not going to be bad news. "When they told me it had spread, they said it was just two minuscule melanoma cells. "As soon as they said that - and not a mass or tumour - it gave me hope." Simon underwent Gamma Knife radiotherapy in December. Then, in early 2025, doctors prescribed a double-drug immunotherapy - nivolumab and ipilimumab - known for its severe side effects. After just one dose 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 200mg of high-dose prednisolone steroids, which caused severe nerve damage to his legs and hands. 5 5 Simon said: "I felt numb, battered, lethargic - 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. In May, he 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. Speaking about his diagnosis, Simon said: "It's OK to cry. 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."
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I got drunk after one glass of wine - my doctor called and said to sit down'
Simon Bowler was baffled when he began feeling tipsy after just one drink, a symptom that turned out to be an early sign of skin cancer. In October 2023, Simon noticed he would feel a "strange" head fuzz and become intoxicated after a single alcoholic beverage. A few weeks later, Simon discovered a lump on his neck, which was initially brushed off as a cyst by medics. Persistent health concerns led him back to his GP and eventually to OSD Healthcare in Hemel Hempstead near London, where an ultrasound uncovered the grim reality of cancer, reports The Mirror. Simon successfully underwent surgery to remove neck lumps in February 2024. He started immunotherapy and repeatedly went through MRI and CT scans for monitoring. But a November 2024 scan revealed that the cancer had metastasised to his brain. Simon, 50, from Thorley Wood in Hertfordshire, UK, then received Gamma Knife radiotherapy, a precise treatment attacking brain tumours with gamma radiation, and continued immunotherapy from March 2025. He is currently considering his future treatment options during a break. The tennis coach shared his peculiar experience, saying: "I can usually drink a bottle of wine and not feel anything. But after I noticed the lump in my neck, I realised I was getting drunk after just a glass of red wine. "I was experiencing blurred vision when trying to switch off from the day. I couldn't relax. I felt a strange head fuzz - it lasted for a few weeks before I started taking steps to sort it out. "I had an ultrasound and a blood test. The ultrasound showed something suspicious, but I needed a biopsy to confirm the type of cancer. "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 and would need to do a biopsy." Speaking about the successful surgery to remove lumps in his neck, Simon said: "It was beautiful - the operation was successful as far as they were concerned. However, it involved my neck being cut open and I had over 100 stitches." Forward-looking treatment included a year-long regimen of nine rounds of immunotherapy, starting in June 2024, complemented by scheduled CT and MRI scans to track his health status. However, a routine scan later on in November 2024 unveiled that despite previous surgical efforts, the cancer had migrated to his brain. "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," Simon said. "You cross your fingers that it's not going to be bad news. When they told me it had spread, they said it was just two minuscule melanoma cells. As soon as they said that - and not a mass or tumour - it gave me hope." In December, Simon turned to Gamma Knife radiotherapy and earlier this year, his medical team recommended a powerful combination of immunotherapy drugs known for their harsh side effects. The drugs, nivolumab and ipilimumab, proved too much after just one treatment in March 2025, making Simon violently ill and leading to severe complications. Simon ended up in hospital for ten days and was treated with high-dose steroids that unfortunately resulted in nerve damage to his legs and hands. Simon said: "I felt numb, battered, lethargic - 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." While pausing his treatment, Simon is in talks with his oncology team to plot the way forward. In May, he started a GoFundMe campaign and has since seen generous support, raising almost £7,000 (approximately €8,175). He will channel the proceeds into launching a new enterprise dealing in tennis gear and has pledged to contribute part of his sales to Macmillan, the NHS, and various mental health organisations. Simon said: "It's OK to cry. 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." You can visit Simon's GoFundMe page here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Man's bizarre skin cancer sign after 'getting drunk from one glass of wine'
Simon Bowler, 50, started to feel a 'strange' head fuzz and began to get drunk after just one glass A 50-year-old man who got tipsy after just one drink discovered his unusual symptom was actually a warning sign of skin cancer. Simon Bowler started feeling a strange head fuzz and began feeling inebriated after only one drink in October 2023, prompting him to seek medical help. Within weeks, a lump appeared on his neck, which was initially dismissed as a cyst by doctors. However, after multiple visits to his GP, Simon was sent to a specialist where an ultrasound revealed he had cancer. A biopsy later confirmed skin cancer, leading to a successful operation to remove the neck lumps in February 2024, followed by immunotherapy and routine scans. However, in November 2024, a scan showed the cancer had spread to his brain, requiring Gamma Knife radiotherapy and a resumption of immunotherapy in March 2025. Simon is now taking a break from treatment to determine his next steps. Simon, a tennis coach from Hertfordshire, said: "I can usually drink a bottle of wine and not feel anything. But after I noticed the lump in my neck, I realised I was getting drunk after just a glass of red wine. "I was experiencing blurred vision when trying to switch off from the day. I couldn't relax. I felt a strange head fuzz - it lasted for a few weeks before I started taking steps to sort it out." After enduring peculiar symptoms, Simon headed to his GP, who initially suggested he had a cyst and a hernia. Days later, his condition was reassessed at the surgery, escalating from "harmless" cysts to a branchial cleft cyst—a form of neck lump—and Simon was then referred to OSD Healthcare in Hemel Hempstead. Simon said: "I had an ultrasound and a blood test. The ultrasound showed something suspicious, but I needed a biopsy to confirm the type of cancer. "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 and would need to do a biopsy." Despite the alarm, Simon's blood tests returned without indicating anything worrying and he proceeded with a biopsy in December 2023. The examination verified he had skin cancer. By February 2024, he went through a successful surgical procedure at Lister Hospital in Stevenage, which aimed to excise both the primary and secondary lumps. Simon reflected: "It was beautiful - the operation was successful as far as they were concerned. However, it involved my neck being cut open and I had over 100 stitches." Come June 2024, Simon started a substantial year-long immunotherapy course spanning nine sessions to thwart a recurrence and consented to regular CT and MRI scans for ongoing monitoring. Nonetheless, a routine scan disclosed in late November 2024 that despite his recovery post-operation, the disease had metastasised to his brain. 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. "You cross your fingers that it's not going to be bad news. When they told me it had spread, they said it was just two minuscule melanoma cells. As soon as they said that - and not a mass or tumour - it gave me hope." In December, Simon underwent Gamma Knife radiotherapy, followed by a new treatment approach in early 2025 involving a double-drug immunotherapy regimen combining nivolumab and ipilimumab, which are known to have severe side effects. After a single dose of the drugs in March 2025, Simon was violently sick, leading to hospitalisation for 10 days due to his bowel ceasing to function properly. During his hospital stay, he was treated with 200mg of high-dose prednisolone steroids, which unfortunately resulted in severe nerve damage in his legs and hands. Simon said: "I felt numb, battered, lethargic - 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." Currently on a break from treatment, Simon is in discussions with his oncology team about future options and set up a GoFundMe page in May, which has since gathered close to £7,000 in donations. He's investing the raised funds into a fresh venture selling tennis accessories and intends to contribute part of the proceeds to Macmillan, the NHS and charities supporting mental health. Simon said: "It's OK to cry. 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."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I got drunk after one glass - my doctor called and said to sit down'
Simon Bowler, 50, began feeling a 'strange' head fuzz and started getting drunk after just one glass - it was a sign of something sinister Simon Bowler was baffled when he began feeling tipsy after just one drink, a symptom that turned out to be an early sign of skin cancer. In October 2023, Simon noticed he would feel "strange" head fuzz and become intoxicated after a single alcoholic beverage. A few weeks later, Simon discovered a lump on his neck, which was initially brushed off as a cyst by medics. Persistent health concerns led him back to his GP and eventually to OSD Healthcare in Hemel Hempstead, where an ultrasound uncovered the grim reality of cancer. Following a biopsy, it was confirmed that Simon had skin cancer; he successfully underwent surgery to remove neck lumps in February 2024. He commenced immunotherapy and repeatedly went through MRI and CT scans for monitoring. But a November 2024 scan revealed that the cancer had metastasised to his brain. Simon, 50, from Thorley Wood, Hertfordshire, then received Gamma Knife radiotherapy, a precise treatment attacking brain tumours with gamma radiation and continued immunotherapy from March 2025. He is currently considering his future treatment options during a break. The tennis coach shared his peculiar experience: "I can usually drink a bottle of wine and not feel anything. But after I noticed the lump in my neck, I realised I was getting drunk after just a glass of red wine. "I was experiencing blurred vision when trying to switch off from the day. I couldn't relax. I felt a strange head fuzz - it lasted for a few weeks before I started taking steps to sort it out." Simon's encounter with odd symptoms led him to his GP, who initially diagnosed a cyst and hernia. Days later, a second visit prompted an escalated assessment to a branchial cleft cyst, leading to a referral to OSD Healthcare in Hemel Hempstead for further examination. Simon said: "I had an ultrasound and a blood test. The ultrasound showed something suspicious, but I needed a biopsy to confirm the type of cancer." While en route to work, Simon received a pivotal phone call from his doctor. He said: "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 and would need to do a biopsy." Reassuring yet uncertain results came through as Simon's blood tests returned sans signs of malignancy, and a biopsy in December 2023 verified skin cancer. In February 2024, he triumphed over a crucial surgery at Lister Hospital, Stevenage, to extract both lumps. Simon said: "It was beautiful - the operation was successful as far as they were concerned. However, it involved my neck being cut open and I had over 100 stitches." Forward-looking treatment included a year-long regimen of nine rounds of immunotherapy, starting in June 2024, complemented by scheduled CT and MRI scans to track his health status. However, a routine scan later on in November 2024 unveiled that despite previous surgical efforts, the cancer had migrated to his brain. Simon opened up about his health struggles, revealing: "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. "You cross your fingers that it's not going to be bad news. When they told me it had spread, they said it was just two minuscule melanoma cells. As soon as they said that - and not a mass or tumour - it gave me hope." In December, Simon turned to Gamma Knife radiotherapy to combat his illness. Fast forward to early 2025, his medical team recommended a powerful combination of immunotherapy drugs known for their harsh side effects. The drugs, nivolumab and ipilimumab, proved too much after just one treatment in March 2025, making Simon violently ill and leading to severe complications. A hospital stay ensued, lasting ten days and involving treatment with high-dose steroids that unfortunately resulted in nerve damage to his legs and hands. Simon said: "I felt numb, battered, lethargic - 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." While pausing his treatment, Simon is in talks with his oncology team to plot the way forward. In May, he started a GoFundMe campaign and has since seen generous support, raising almost £7,000. He will channel the proceeds into launching a new enterprise dealing in tennis gear and has pledged to contribute part of his sales to Macmillan, the NHS, and various mental health organisations. Simon said: "It's OK to cry. 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." For those who wish to back Simon's fundraising efforts, they are encouraged to visit his dedicated page.
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Man felt drunk after one glass of wine - then had 'bad news' call
Man felt drunk after one glass of wine - then had 'bad news' call His doctor asked if he was sitting down Simon and his wife, Tracey (Image: Simon Bowler/SWNS ) A man who started getting tipsy after a single drink discovered his bizarre symptom was a sign of skin cancer. Simon Bowler, 50, started feeling a "strange" head fuzz and began feeling drunk after just one alcoholic beverage in October 2023. Within weeks, a lump appeared on his neck, which he said was initially dismissed as a cyst by doctors. But, after multiple visits to his GP, Simon was sent to OSD Healthcare, Hemel Hempstead, where an ultrasound revealed he had cancer. A biopsy later confirmed Simon had skin cancer and he then had a successful operation to remove the lumps on his neck in February 2024. He began immunotherapy and underwent routine MRI and CT scans. However, in November 2024, a routine scan showed the cancer had spread to his brain. Simon underwent Gamma Knife radiotherapy - a non-invasive procedure that uses highly focused beams of gamma radiation to treat brain tumours - and resumed immunotherapy in March 2025. He is now taking a break from treatment to work out the next steps. Simon, a tennis coach, from Thorley Wood, Hertfordshire, said: "I can usually drink a bottle of wine and not feel anything. But after I noticed the lump in my neck, I realised I was getting drunk after just a glass of red wine. "I was experiencing blurred vision when trying to switch off from the day. I couldn't relax. I felt a strange head fuzz - it lasted for a few weeks before I started taking steps to sort it out." Article continues below After experiencing these bizarre symptoms, Simon visited his GP - who initially told him he had a cyst and a hernia. A few days later, he returned to the surgery, where the "harmless" cysts were upgraded to a branchial cleft cyst - a type of neck lump - and he was referred to OSD Healthcare, Hemel Hempstead. Simon in hospital with his wife, Tracey (Image: Simon Bowler/SWNS ) Simon said: "I had an ultrasound and a blood test. The ultrasound showed something suspicious, but I needed a biopsy to confirm the type of cancer. "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 and would need to do a biopsy." Amid the worrying news, Simon's blood tests came back showing nothing sinister and he underwent a biopsy in December 2023. The biopsy confirmed Simon had skin cancer. In February 2024, he underwent a successful operation at Lister Hospital in Stevenage to remove both the initial and secondary lumps. Simon said: "It was beautiful - the operation was successful as far as they were concerned. However, it involved my neck being cut open and I had over 100 stitches." In June 2024, Simon began a year-long course of nine rounds of immunotherapy to prevent recurrence. It was also agreed that he would undergo routine CT and MRI scans to monitor his condition. Then in late November 2024 - months after surgery and amid recovery - a routine scan revealed the cancer had spread to his brain. 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. "You cross your fingers that it's not going to be bad news. When they told me it had spread, they said it was just two minuscule melanoma cells. As soon as they said that - and not a mass or tumour - it gave me hope." Simon underwent Gamma Knife radiotherapy in December. Then, in early 2025, doctors prescribed a double-drug immunotherapy - nivolumab and ipilimumab - known for its severe side effects. After just one dose in March 2025, Simon became violently ill and was unable to use the toilet due to his bowel not functioning properly. Simon is looking at the next steps (Image: Simon Bowler/SWNS ) He was hospitalised for 10 days and placed on 200mg of high-dose prednisolone steroids, which caused severe nerve damage to his legs and hands. Simon said: "I felt numb, battered, lethargic - 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. In May, he 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. Speaking about his diagnosis, Simon said: "It's OK to cry. 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." Article continues below To support Simon's fundraiser, visit his page.
