‘I had blood in my stool. I had pains, but I just ploughed on’ – bowel cancer patient on being too embarrassed to get checked

Busy chef Ciaran Cunningham says being afraid to talk to your GP about toilet habits could make treatment far more difficult – or worse

Ciaran Cunningham marks Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

A busy executive chef has told how embarrassment about symptoms led to him delay seeking diagnosis of bowel cancer.

Ciaran Cunningham, who lives in Kildare and works in CityWest Hotel, Dublin, oversees 7,000 meals a day – breakfasts, lunches and dinners – looking after asylum-seekers and refugees.