The Fittest I’d Ever Been - Then I Got Bowel Cancer | GRAFT According to Dar Barrow

When public speaker Dar Barrow went on holiday to Menorca, the last thing he expected was to come home with bowel cancer. Fit, healthy, having just ran an ultra marathon(!) he had no symptoms, no family history, and no warning signs... just a pain in his stomach that turned out to be life-changing.In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, Dave sits down with Ben to talk through his diagnosis, surgery, and recovery - and how he found purpose through writing his brutally honest book “Oh Sh*t, I’ve Got Bowel Cancer.” From humour on the ward to moments of raw fear, this episode is about facing the unthinkable, finding light in dark places, and the importance of speaking up before it’s too late.🎧 Listen as we discuss…(00:00) – The steak that started it all: how a stomach ache became something more(04:00) – Hearing the words “We need to get you tested”(06:10) – Men’s health: why we don’t go to the doctor soon enough(09:15) – Facing the unknown: from fitness to fear(12:00) – The colonoscopy, the moment of truth, and seeing the tumour on scree(16:10) – Switching mindset: from panic to preparation(18:30) – Training for surgery and finding strength through movement(21:00) – The operation: risk, recovery, and waking up without a stoma bag(25:00) – Finding perspective in pain — and gratitude on the ward(31:00) – Why movement matters in healing (and why he was home in 48 hours)(38:00) – The silence after the storm: life after surgery(41:00) – Journaling, Reiki, and the mental recovery no one talks about(44:00) – Writing “Oh Shit, I’ve Got Bowel Cancer”: from diary to lifeline(48:00) – Friendship, perspective, and the gift of still being here(52:00) – The fear of recurrence and the real mental battle post-cancer(56:00) – Dave’s advice: speak, trust the experts, and don’t Google itKEY TAKEAWAYSIt can happen to anyone. Cancer doesn’t care how fit you are — listen to your body.Don’t wait. Men, especially, delay seeing the GP — and it costs lives.Mindset matters. Once you know what you’re facing, shift gears from fear to action.Movement heals. Walking, training, and small wins speed recovery and boost confidence.Talk, write, share. Expression — not suppression — is the real act of resilience.GUESTDave (Dar) Barrow: Author, public speaker, and endurance runner. After being diagnosed with Stage 3B bowel cancer, Dave documented his journey with brutal honesty in “Oh Sh*t, I’ve Got Bowel Cancer.” His mission now is to break the stigma around men’s health, encourage early diagnosis, and help others find light in their darkest moments.FOLLOWDar on Substack, Instagram and LinkedIn.Buy Oh Sh*t, I’ve Got Bowel Cancer here.