Cancer patient floored after asking M&S staff for help in sudden emergency

Cancer patient floored after asking M&S staff for help in sudden emergency Alex Reddington was shopping when she suddenly got a stomach cramp and knew she needed to head to the bathroom urgently - but there was a problem For people living with disabilities or undergoing cancer treatment, access to a toilet at a moment's notice is not a matter of convenience - it can be a medical necessity. Digestive issues, urgency and unpredictable side effects mean that being denied or delayed access to a bathroom can cause real distress and even physical harm. It is a challenge faced daily by thousands across the UK, often in silence and with a great deal of embarrassment. One person who knows this all too well is Alex Reddington, a cancer patient who has sent a heartfelt message to Marks and Spencer staff in Handforth following their response to her sudden medical emergency. Alex was browsing in the store with her grandparents when she experienced an abrupt stomach cramp and knew she urgently needed the toilet. Alex is currently receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer, which brings numerous side effects - including digestive issues. When she searched for a public toilet, however, she found they were either occupied or unavailable. Feeling self-conscious, she retrieved a medical emergency card, provided by Macmillan Cancer Support, and approached a member of staff in the shop. The card read: "Due to my cancer treatment, I need urgent access to a toilet. Please can you help?". Alex said: "I was slightly embarrassed, I will not lie. Hi I'm currently fighting a battle I fear I may not win and I require assistance imminently. "Then I realised, whatever do I have to be embarrassed about? This is a side effect of my chemo pills. The very pills that keep me alive. "So I went to the lovely staff of Marks and Spencer's, showed them my card and said "I need to use the staff bathrooms asap." Following this encounter, Alex described how staff instantly escorted her to the staff facilities, without hesitation. She continued: "The staff were wonderful! They were so kind and empathetic towards me and they rushed me to the staff bathrooms no questions asked. "They treated me as though I was having a medical emergency, which I was, and assured me there was nothing to be embarrassed about. "Thank you Marks and Spencer for coming to my air in my hour of need and granting me access to the sacred staff bathrooms. I feel much better now!". Alex also revealed that the bathroom cubicle even displayed a poster on the back of the door reminding staff to check their own breasts for any changes. Handforth M&S reposted the video on their TikTok page, commenting that they would be passing on Alex's gratitude to the team. Others also took to the comments section to praise the staff for their kindness. One person wrote: "M&S is my absolute hero brand. So glad they helped you. Absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about, the staff are dead right. Wishing you a speedy recovery." A second added: "Crying reading this. Since ringing the bell on Tuesday my tears are rolling freely." A third commented: "That MandS poster is in their changing rooms too, which pushed me to get checked out, makes me well up every time I see it. x". A fourth chimed in: "Ohhhh I love that they took care of you and I LOVE the stall posters! !". Macmillan Cancer Support offers toilet cards free of charge to cancer patients via their website. [Image text:] MARKS&SPENCER