09/09/2026
“The biggest thing cancer taught me, is how much I want to live."
Meet our latest , Learning Space Senior Library Assistant, Simon Curry.
"When people hear my story, they're often surprised by how it started. There wasn't a dramatic moment. I wasn't feeling unwell. I didn't have any symptoms. In fact, I felt fit and healthy.
Then, in 2023, a routine bowel cancer screening test came through the post. I sent off the sample, thought nothing of it, and got on with life. A few weeks later, I was called in for more tests. That's when they found the cancer.
I went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and thankfully the treatment worked well. The tumour disappeared, and for a while I thought I'd beaten it. But a few months later it came back. This time I needed surgery.
Part of my bowel was removed, and I was fitted with a permanent stoma. I'll be honest, that was difficult to accept. At first, I couldn't even look at it. It took days before I felt comfortable. I'd gone from being someone who was always active and independent to someone trying to come to terms with a body that suddenly felt very different. Now, though, it's just part of me. It's not who I am, it's just something I live with.
Work has played a big part in helping me through all of this too. I've been at Warwick for eight years and the support I've received has been incredible. Throughout my diagnosis, treatment and recovery, people have looked after me and checked in on me. The kindness I've experienced from colleagues means more than I can say. I love being part of the University community. I love seeing students arrive, finding their feet and growing in confidence during their time here. Being around that energy is a real privilege.
These days, I don't worry about the little things anymore. I spend time with my family. I look after my tropical garden, which has become a bit of an obsession. I plan the next walk, the next holiday, the next memory I want to make."
Read more of Simon's incredible story of resilience and hope: https://bit.ly/4xqKOPm
