Bristol Rovers assistant Paul Raynor ready to give it his all to see off cancer

By Matt Badcock

Bristol Rovers assistant manager Paul Raynor has thanked the wider football family for their support after revealing he has bowel cancer.

The 60-year-old, who has served as boss Steve Evans’ number two for nearly 20 years, is set to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

Raynor plans to have as much input with the Gas as his health allows.

And while he admits it’s a long road ahead, he has been touched by the well-wishes after Evans recently disclosed his trusty sidekick had a health issue.

Treatment

“It’s bowel cancer,” he explained. “I’m going to deal with it.

“I’m being positive but, as I say, there’s going to be a long road of treatment ahead.

“On Tuesday I had my first meeting and CT scan, and had the tattoos put where the lasers are going to go, and that was a little bit daunting.

“But everyone has been so positive.

“The consultants and the Macmillan nurses have been amazing, and the support I’ve had on social media from players, ex-players, and everyone around the club has been fantastic.

“That helps to keep you positive and, obviously it’s been a bit of a daunting time, but we’re staying positive and going full steam ahead.”

BACKING: Bristol Rovers assistant Paul Raynor
PICTURE: Alamy

Symptoms

Raynor says he is proof of the importance of getting a diagnosis as early as possible and has urged men not to ignore any symptoms.

“There’s also a bit of a wider message for me to share too and that’s around getting tested,” Raynor said.

“It was literally for me, for want of better terminology, a poo sample through the post.

“I’m a typical man, and I left it, and my missus was badgering me into doing it.

“So I did it and a week later – about three weeks ago – I was told there was an abnormal reading, and I had to go in for a full check.

“Within an hour, I was sat with a consultant and being told they had found a tumour.

“From there, it’s been a process of different scans and moving forward.

“It’s going to be a five-to-six-month process in terms of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and then depending on how that goes, there might be an operation as well.

“It’s going to be a six-or seven-month long process but the good news is they’re telling me that the chances of success are high.

“The cancer hasn’t spread elsewhere to any major organs either, which is a massive positive, but it’s obviously a long road ahead in terms of treatment.”