Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ

Diagnosed with bowel cancer

I was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in February 2013.  

I had none of the typical symptoms of bowel cancer, so when in January 2013 I started being violently sick for hours at a time doctors put it down to a sudden bout of food poisoning. 

Three weeks later the vomiting began again and this time I was taken into hospital and tests revealed a blockage in my bowel. 

I felt so ill and was in a lot of pain – I’d been vomiting for five days and couldn’t eat or drink – so when the consultant told me I had a tumour, I was almost relieved that finally, we knew what it was. I just wanted them to get on and fix it so I could feel normal again. 

Further complications 

After my surgery to remove the tumour and two-thirds of my bowel, I slowly recovered in the Victoria Infirmary’s high dependency ward. However six days later, I fell ill with peritonitis, a potentially fatal inflammation of the abdomen, and to make matters worse I also had pneumonia. 

A second emergency abdominal operation followed and I had to have a stoma bag put in place. 

It was a huge blow, a real step backwards for me. I was exhausted and still couldn’t eat normally. After a week or so a nurse helped me into the shower to wash my hair, just to try and make me feel a bit better, however the sheer effort completely exhausted me and I ended up having to have a blood transfusion. 

A few days later I received another devastating blow with the news that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes and I would need chemotherapy. It was such a shock and very difficult to tell my children, Lucy, 16 and Adam, 14. 

I slowly started to recover after spending 29 days in hospital (two and a half weeks in the high dependency ward) and I began chemotherapy in April 2013. 

My drama was still far from over. After returning home following further surgery, pouches containing septic fluid developed on my abdomen and I fell seriously ill at home. Despite everything I’d already been through, that was the sickest I’d ever felt. The night before I was readmitted to hospital was the worst. I was genuinely terrified that I wasn’t going to survive.  

However once again I recovered, and after three weeks in hospital and on the 23 December, I was discharged. 

Visiting Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s 

It was a nurse who first suggested to me that I might benefit from a visit to Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s. At first I thought why on earth would I want to go there? It’s full of sick people. I hadn’t quite come to terms with my cancer diagnosis. But when I walked through the doors of Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s Glasgow, I thought – why have I not come here before? 

The support groups at Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s, like the Look Good Feel Better beauty workshops, were a huge help. They were fantastic – we had such a laugh and I made so many friends. 

The support I received from Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s was invaluable. You can talk to people, without feeling guilty that you are upsetting them, or scaring them. It’s much easier to cry too.

Why I chose to fundraise 

Now that I’m through and on the other side, I couldn’t just say thanks and walk away. I want to help others the way Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s helped me and my family.  

I took part in a 10k run with my family and friends in June 2016 and it was a really special day. I raised £7,260 and I am absolutely over the moon as I had a target of £2,000. I joined the volunteer fundraising board at Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s Glasgow and as a community speaker, I have attended events and workshops to share my story. 

So many people did so much to help me that being able to give something back by volunteering for Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s is the least I can do. 

After a clear scan, I decided to take part in the Great Women’s 10k 2016 in honour of Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s. I hate running, but I wanted to do it because there was a time when I thought I might never be able to do it again.

Here with you

If you, your family or friends need support during this time, please call us on 0300 123 180, email [email protected] or book a time to visit us.

If you're already visiting the hospital, just come in.