Retired PE teacher Robert Hancock is enjoying being back on the golf course. He plays twice a week, supports Leicester City and helps out as a supply teacher.

It is all a far cry from two years ago when the 66-year-old was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer, which meant the disease had spread into the lymph nodes.

Mr Hancock, from Stoke Golding, said: "I was devastated. I thought this isn't me, it can't be happening to me."

Within a few weeks, he had an operation to remove the tumour and part of his bowel.

The tumour was large and had wrapped itself round his colon.

He also had to have an ileostomy – a small bag fitted to remove waste products from his digestive system.

Mr Hancock, who is married with two daughters, a stepson and three grandchildren, said: "One of my worst nightmares was the thought of waking up and having 'the bag'.

"But I coped better than I thought. It wasn't pleasant but it was good to be alive.

"Looking back, the time of the operation was a low point. I had to have chemotherapy for six months and, at one point, I got so dehydrated and lacking in energy I could barely move.

"My consultant told me the tumour could have been in my body for at least a year."

Thinking back, Mr Hancock believes he had symptoms but it never occurred to him it could be bowel cancer.

He said: "I was going to the loo about four or five times before leaving the house in the morning but I thought that's just me.

"I thought it was due to haemorrhoids."

By chance, a home-testing kit arrived as part of the NHS national bowel screening programme in April 2010

He said: "I decided to do it and wasn't too worried when I received a letter with an appointment for a colonoscopy.

"I was it expecting it to be negative, so when I was told it was cancer I was shocked.

"When I got home my wife, Diane, and I decided we were going to be really positive.

"All our family and friends were amazing. It was humbling and I am not sure what we would have done without their support.

"They came round with cards, visited me in hospital and were always there to do things for Diane."

Almost two years on and life is on the up. Mr Hancock said: "Last May, I had the ileostomy reversed, which I was over the moon about.

"Things will never be quite the same. I will always need to go to the loo more frequently.

"But, two years on, there are no signs of the disease and I feel on top of the world."

Mr Hancock is delighted to be back on the golf course, putting on weight and working again as a supply teacher.

However, he had a stark reminder of how lucky he had been when a former colleague was diagnosed with bowel cancer and died three months later.

Mr Hancock said: "I would urge anyone who gets a testing kit through the post to make sure they do it. It could save your life.

"In the same way, anyone who thinks they have symptoms should go and see the doctor.

"It isn't embarrassing and, anyway, embarrassment doesn't kill you, cancer does."