Steven Wise, from Hampstead, London, had a severe allergic reaction to prescribed medicine – but he said the dramatic episode proved to be a ‘second chance’ at life
A man’s life was saved after his hidden cancer was revealed by an allergic reaction to an acid reflux tablet.
Grandad-of-seven Steven Wise, 71, had been suffering with painful acid reflux for a year. He was eventually prescribed Lansoprazole – a strong acid reflux medication – after over the counter medication proved ineffective – but suffered an almost immediate allergic reaction. He was rushed to hospital and given an adrenaline shot, endoscopy and a CT scan.
The CT scan revealed he had a mass in his bowel, which was later diagnosed as stage 3 bowel cancer – despite Steven having zero symptoms of the illness. Steven had surgery to remove the 7cm lump from his colon just three weeks later and it was a complete success. Steven, from Hampstead, London, a tennis and football coach, said: “If it wasn’t for that tablet reaction I’d never have known I had cancer – it’s given me a second chance to live life to the fullest.”
Steven was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead in September 2023, after having an allergic reaction to a lansoprazole – and acid reflux tablet. The reaction was so severe he feared he would die. “My body didn’t take well to it at all, and I totally panicked,” he said.
“Within a week, they called me back to say that they had actually found stage 3 cancer in my bowel. “I was in complete shock – I hadn’t had any symptoms. “Without that scan, it would have gone to stage 4 and I would have almost certainly died.” Steven only had the scan because of the reaction. “Otherwise I felt fine,” he said. “It just shows.”
Steven went into surgery at the Royal Free Hospital in September 2023. Steven praised the medical team at the Royal Free, who he says went above and beyond to ensure his comfort. He said: “They were incredible. The doctors originally warned me I might need a stoma bag, but I asked them if there was any way around it. The surgeon even re-stitched me just so he could prevent me having a stoma bag, I’m so grateful.”
His treatment plan included chemotherapy in tablet form as a precaution to prevent the cancer from returning. But after a few weeks, he had to discontinue them due to side effects like swelling and exhaustion. Despite this, his recovery continued smoothly, and Steven recently received his all-clear – almost exactly a year after his surgery. He’s now in a five-year follow-up program, and he was recently given the all clear after his latest colonoscopy showed no signs of cancer.
And he has no plans on giving up his sports coaching. “I was always told the chair is the enemy,” he said. “You’ve got to keep doing stuff and keep active. “I’m kept busy with my grandchildren and life is good. “I’m out playing golf again and truly grateful to be here.”