Cancer-stricken teenager with 'days' to live posts heart-breaking Facebook farewell as he tries to raise £1million for charity before he dies

 A teenager with terminal cancer who is desperate to raise £1 million for charity before he dies has told his fans he is close to death with touching Facebook post.
Stephen Sutton, 19, is trying to raise £1million through his just giving page for the Teenage Cancer Trust, but he is still short of the target at £592,685.78.
Stephen was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2010 when he was 15, but despite having the tumour removed from his bowel it returned a year later, and doctors told him he would be unlikely to survive more than a few years.



Stephen Sutton, 19, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer aged 15
Despite having the tumour removed from his bowel, it returned year later
Fun-loving teenager drew up list of 46 tasks to complete before he dies
He is now trying to complete number one - raising £1m for charity
But he is currently off target at £592,685.78 and is desperate to reach £1m
Warned fans today that his condition is 'dire' and he doesn't have long left
Due to his tumours, his right lung has completely collapsed
Sent fans a final 'thumbs up' from his hospital bed today

Brave: Mr Sutton's story captured the hearts of the nation when he declared he wanted to tick off a particular part of his bucket list - raising £1m for charity to 'prove there has been some purpose to my short life'

 Instead of letting the news dampen his spirits, he decided to draw up a bucket list and launched a new career as a motivational speaker, going into schools talking about his cancer.
Last week his story captured the hearts of the nation when he declared he wanted to tick off a particular part of his bucket list - raising £1m for charity to 'prove there has been some purpose to my short life'.

Last January the fun loving teenager drew up his bucket list of 46 tasks to complete before he dies - including taking part in a skydive

The 19-year-old has so far raised a staggering £592,685.78 for the Teenage Cancer Trust through his Facebook bucket-list challenge which he started last year.
His incredible spirit and optimism won him fans from across the globe including celebrities like comedians Jimmy Carr and John Bishop who met the teenager.

But today the teenager told his fans on Facebook he was in hospital in a 'dire' position after struggling for breath.

In a tongue-in-cheek swipe at his illness to complete number 23 on his list he had a pair of scissors tattooed on the operational scars that run along his body

Despite this, he managed to maintain his typical upbeat demeanour - even managing to joke about his situation - sending them a 'final thumbs up'.
He wrote: 'The good news is that I am still here and breathing - just about! I am permanently hooked up to oxygen and unable to get out of my hospital bed,though.
'Due to tumours my right lung has completely collapsed; the tumours are not moving anywhere anytime soon so that puts me in a very dire situation prognosis wise.
'I have managed to have a CT scan though today and if the result from that are suitable they might consider trying to put a stent in my chest, which may help give me a few extra days.

Plight: Last summer, Mr Sutton gave a speech at Downing Street about his illness

'But in the position I’m in there are many risks and things that could go wrong if I do choose to have it though.
'Generally I am feeling very weak and the slightest bit of movement is leaving me short of breath.
'I am also finding it tiring to speak and even typing this message is hard work.
'Unfortunately I haven’t got much time left, but I just want to reiterate to you all what a great time I’ve had recently.
'I don’t really want to die, but hopefully my journey has influenced a lot of people for the better and taught people not to take life for granted.
'I think it has, and will hopefully continue to do so in the future, so in a situation that seems so unfair and without explanation, at least there has certainly been some purpose for me in my short time alive, which certainly helps ease the pain.
'Cancer sucks, but life has been brilliant.'
Since drawing up his bucket-list last January, Stephen managed to tick off 35 of the 46 tasks.
Some of the daring activities he has achieved include 'hugging an animal bigger than himself' when he embraced an elephant at West Midlands Safari Park.
Stephen also appeared as an extra in the BBC daytime drama Doctors after he wrote to the producers explaining his bucket-list.

To donate to Stephen’s bucket list, visit Justgiving.com/Stephen-sutton-TCT.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COLORECTAL CANCER 
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the third most common cancer in the UK, and also one of the most preventable forms of the disease, World Cancer Research Fund says.
in 2011, 42,747 cases of bowel cancer were diagnosed. Scientists estimate that about half of all bowel cancer cases in the UK - over 20,000 - could be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, choosing a healthy diet, not drinking alcohol and being physically active.
Many different factors contribute to the development of bowel cancer, with some of the most important factors being every day lifestyle choices such as diet.
The WCRF found that lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of developing bowel cancer include being: overweight or obese, lack of physical activity, diets low in fibre, diets high in red and processed meat, drinking alcohol, smoking.

Other factors include age, family history of bowel cancer, or personal history of polyps or inflammatory bowel disease