When in 2024 I was honoured to become the Surrey Ladies Bowling President, there was only one choice in my mind for the charity I would support during my year in office. My choice was of course Bright Cancer Care.
My cancer journey started back in November 2012, when after a visit to my GP I was fast tracked for a CT scan which showed a large tumour in my rectum. After extensive surgery in December 2012, included the formation of a temporary ileostomy it was found that my lymph nodes were also affected. I embarked on a regime of intravenous chemotherapy and later chemotherapy tablets.
After 6 months of treatment things were looking good so 10 months after my initial surgery my ileostomy was successfully reversed.
My follow up care was excellent and after a routine scan in 2014 I was told I had metastatic cancer in the right side of my liver. I had a liver resection in June 2014 following by a further six months of chemotherapy.
Shortly after, a follow up scan showed another metastatic cancer in the left side of my liver close to the hepatic artery. It was decided that 3 months of chemotherapy alongside the drug avastin would hopefully reduce the size of the tumour to make it operable. The plan worked and the left side of my liver and gallbladder were successfully removed in 2015, followed by a further 3 months of chemotherapy.
I am pleased to say that as we move in to 2025, more than 12 years after my original diagnosis I am currently cancer free and enjoying life.
I am eternally grateful to two of the former trustees of Bright, my oncologist Dr Essapen and my liver surgeon Prof Karanjia, for their amazing skill and knowledge (not forgetting my wonderful bowel surgeon Mr Trickett).
I have definitely benefited from the wonderful research programme overseen by Professor Karanjia, regarding surgery for secondary liver cancer. The increase in long term survival rate for patients under his care is truly amazing.
If anyone has the opportunity to support Bright as their chosen charity, the wonderful fundraising team lead by Zoe Wheatley will go above and beyond to support you. Their help and support during my year as President was amazing. I am so grateful to Zoe, Gerry and the trustees for making my fundraising year so enjoyable and successful.
