A brave dad-of-two who had hundreds of liver tumours, eight liver operations and two heart surgeries thought his “life was over” when he was diagnosed with a rare cancer.
But after first visiting the GP in 2008 and being diagnosed with Neuroendocrine cancer in 2013 when he was 32, Craig Speirs is still fighting - and wants to raise £1million for those going through the same.
Neuroendocrine cancer is a rare form of cancer which starts in different parts of the body. Craig’s started in his rectum, before tumours also appeared in his liver.
He first knew something was wrong when he began having light flushes in his face, was going to the toilet 10 to 15 times a day, and had regular heart palpitations.
It took doctors five years to diagnose Craig, from Elderslie near Paisley, with the rare cancer. Ten years after he was given just five years to live, Craig is still going strong.
Craig said to Glasgow Live: "I thought my life was over when I got told I had cancer. It was quite shocking for my family too, they probably thought they were going to lose me.
"I worked for nine months and then it became really difficult with all the treatments and I wasn't able to do the job how I wanted to do it. It was making the treatments even harder so I just took a step back to spend time with my kids.
"A cancer diagnosis will prioritise your life in a way that nothing else ever will. You will look at things in your life and think that things which weren’t a priority before become a priority.
"My priority in life isn’t how far I can go in my career, I have different aspirations in life."
Throughout his chemotherapy and surgeries, Craig has kept busy by raising awareness for Neuroendocrine cancer.
Now an ambassador for Neuroendocrine Cancer UK (NCUK), Craig is arranging a charity firewalk with the aim of raising £100,000 for NCUK to assist cancer research.
He said of his health: “They are surprised that I am doing well. I have become so used to it and adapted to that way of life now.
“If you see a scan, you’d think this guy has days to live but because it is slow growing my body is able to adapt and live with it a bit longer.
"If I was to sit in the house and do nothing my mental health would be poor. I am feeling quite positive, we have 50 people signed up from friends, family and patients.
"My hope is that someday we find a test that will speed up the process so patients can get diagnosed earlier.
"I would like to have a national firewalk after mine, I am hoping I can persuade people to do similar things across the UK. The main target is to try and raise one million pounds."
Craig’s charity firewalk will take place this year on November 10, and is open to anyone who wishes to get involved. If you wish to do so, email Craig on craigspeirs1980@gmail.com.
Craig’s fundraising campaign can be found here.
