Liam Kerry, a 37-year-old Jaguar Land Rover worker from Kings Heath, tragically died from bowel cancer after doctors initially misdiagnosed his symptoms as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Misdiagnosis and Delayed Detection
Liam first sought medical help for dietary and digestive issues. Doctors attributed his symptoms to IBS and advised dietary changes. However, in 2022, a more thorough examination revealed a golf ball-sized tumor in his colon.
Surgery and Recurrence
Despite surgery to remove the mass, some tumor cells remained and spread throughout his body. Liam underwent chemotherapy and achieved brief remission, but the cancer returned within weeks and was declared terminal in April 2025.
His childhood friend Shane Grant from Kings Norton said: "It was a massive shock. He was always pushing to get a more thorough check-up, and it took a long time for that to happen."
Inspiring Legacy
In his final months, Liam—a model maker for JLR who worked on cars featured in James Bond films—was determined to help others. He completed a book of 100 stories designed to be read on the toilet, titled 'Flush Fiction: 100 One Hundred Word Stories'. Proceeds go to Bowel Cancer UK.
Shane wrote the final story as a tribute after Liam passed away on January 11 this year. "The stories are so funny, imaginative, clever, and outside of the box, just like Liam was," Shane said.
The book stands as a lasting memorial to Liam's creativity and his determination to help others facing similar battles with bowel cancer.
