30-06-2025
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.
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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.
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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."
