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Transcript of the radio interview for the hard of hearing (edited for clarity)

Louise Hulland

Good afternoon. The actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his starring role in the US teen drama, Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of forty-eight after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. For all of us of a certain age, it is definitely a celebrity death that’s hit quite hard. So many of us shaped by the iconic coming-of-age nineties TV show. 

Now, James announced his diagnosis in 2024. He spoke openly about what he was dealing with. A stark reminder, of course, of the need to keep a close eye on our health, just as Amelia was mentioning earlier.

Paul Finch is a bowel cancer survivor, and he founded the Suffolk charity, Red Trouser Day. Paul, welcome. Thanks so much for being with us as always. There must be an element of, “There but for the grace of God,” when you hear stories like this, Paul.

Paul Finch

Good afternoon, Louise. yes, it is very sad to hear that. And of course, what we’re seeing is a rising number of cases in younger people. You know, bowel cancer used to be reserved for  the more elderly, but it’s coming down the age ranks more and more. 

But I’m one of the lucky ones that came through it twelve years ago now, actually, after a stage four diagnosis with poor chance of survival. I’ve recovered and set up the charity to help those going through it and give back to the organisations that fixed me, basically, Louise.

Louise Hulland

Paul, I wish you knew how many people I tell about you.

Paul Finch

Thank you.

Louise Hulland

I think it’s remarkable … and also, as well, I should congratulate you on twelve years, because that means that-

 Paul Finch

Yeah

Louise Hulland

… we’ve not spoken for way too long, ’cause it was just ten years last time we spoke. Just the ten.

Louise Hulland

Like so many well-known people, when they go public, and it’s always a big choice to do that-

Paul Finch

Mm-hmm.

Louise Hulland

Their honesty helps us because it means we have conversations like this.

Paul Finch

Absolutely, and, isn’t it sad that we have to wait for that sort of public, … What’s the word I’m looking for? Public recognition … through a well-known person to, to get it out there. I mean, our charity’s mission is to raise awareness, raise money for research (for) Bowel cancer.  And, and more importantly, help those that are going through it as well.

So when you’re facing one of these life’s challenges, actually having a bit of fun in your life and giving back can actually be very cathartic and help with the recovery as well.

Louise Hulland

So what should we be looking for then? , because we spoke to Amelia, I know you heard that little earlier on-

 Paul Finch

Yes

Louise Hulland

… and she said, “Any changes. Any changes.”

Paul Finch

The core ones are actually… Uh, the trouble with bowel cancer is it’s often  quietly developing. Which is why it’s one of the biggest killers, really. It sort of develops in the background without you really knowing. But some indicators are blood in your poo, if I can use that word.

Louise Hulland

Yeah. Use the word. It’s what-

Paul Finch

[chuckles]

Louise Hulland

We’ve got to have a blunt conversation about this.

Paul Finch

Blood in your poo, yeah.

 Louise Hulland

Yeah.

Paul Finch

You know, a change in what’s your toiletry habits. If it’s, you know,  if there’s a change that keeps going, then please go and get it checked. Feeling pain in your lower tummy or bloating and perhaps tiredness or, or weight loss. You know, but I think if there’s any incidence of it in your family, and it isn’t necessarily just direct family, it might be secondary members, you know, cousins or whatever, then actually go to your doctor. 

You can get a fit, what’s called a fit test, the poo test from the age of fifty, it’s now given out as a matter of routine. But if you have any hereditary, uh, or any members of family that have had the disease, then do, do go to your GP because there are actually programs available for having proper colonoscopy checks and things like that.

Louise Hulland

I think it’s probably fair to say that perhaps women find it easier to have embarrassing conversations with doctors-

Paul Finch

Yeah

Louise Hulland

… because we’ve had to from a pretty young age, and if you’ve given birth and all that. what would you say, fella to fella, about just seeing your GP?

Paul Finch

Put your, uh, modesty behind you, quite frankly. I was probably in that camp twelve years ago, and yes, you’re absolutely right. Us fellas are useless at, uh, [chuckles] recognising symptoms. And, well, more importantly, we might know we’ve got symptoms.

I can’t count the number of fellas that have come up to me and go, “Paul, actually, what, what was it that, that, you know, gave you the knowledge?” So I’ve campaigned for twelve years now, trying to get people to take greater awareness of their, of themselves, and actually take action and do something about it. So I’ve stuck myself out there. It’s a taboo subject for many people, not, not just fellas, but mainly fellas. But we’ve got to get over that, really. You know, you’ve got to, you’ve got to recognise what’s going on inside you, take action, and, uh, the problem with bowel cancer being such a big killer is ’cause it’s caught so late.

And the earlier we can catch it … Let me put some stats for you. If you get stage one and two, you have a 90% chance of full survival. If you’re stage three or four, it, it’s inverted, you actually have a 10% chance of full, full survival.

Louise Hulland

Gosh

Paul Finch

… which is the statistics I’m in. So the more we can do to raise awareness, come on, fellas, don’t ignore it. Go and do something about it. It’s on your doorstep. You can, you can make the call, and actually, it’s acted on pretty efficiently these days by, uh, the frontline and the health system. And the, and the health system is very good in the sort of cancer sector generally, so.

Louise Hulland

Paul, if I was a bowel cancer specialist, I’d have looked at your folder and gone: “Can, can we investigate Paul?” [chuckles]

Paul Finch

They do. You know that? Yeah, there’s genetics, where many of the projects we’re supporting are in places like Imperial College and the Royal Marsden in London, where they’re running huge genetics programs. 

And I know for a fact that my, uh, sample tissues, which I willingly gave when I was on treatment, are actually part of a massive cohort, where they’re looking at the genetics behind a lot of these, uh, conditions. So yes, so, so actually, in a peculiar sort of way, I am still contributing to progress in this challenging disease.

Louise Hulland

Paul, I, I’ve always said I think you’re an absolute legend. Tell us about Red Trouser Day and, uh, and what you do.

Paul Finch

So Red Trouser Day, we are a volunteer charity, no paid staff. We’re raising £30-£40k a year in the pursuit of better and earlier diagnosis. We actually gave out £50k last year to an amazing program being run in Imperial, where they’re going to revolutionise the diagnosis  concept itself. I won’t go into too much detail about that at the moment till it’s done. 

But we are making a difference, and we’re here to help anybody that’s going through it, redtrouserday.com. 

Can I just throw in a plug here as well?

Louise Hulland

Of course.

Paul Finch

I think one of the biggest causes of bowel cancer is stress. You know, there are a rising obesity levels, low physical activity, and poor diet, and so on, but stress, and one of the best forms of stress relief, I want to give a little plug to  a men’s choir I’m involved in, in Grantham, called Offbeat

Louise Hulland

Oh, lovely!

Paul Finch

Who are desperately more men. So men, if you’ve got any, troubles in this area, and you wanna, um, sing your heart out, come and join us. … and we raise money for my charity as well.

And, uh, you know, thank you for, uh, pushing the word out there as well. Let’s do more to get this going.

Louise Hulland

Brilliant.

Paul Finch

Thank you.

Louise Hulland

Paul Finch, you’re a legend. Thank you very, very much for being with us on the Afternoon Show.