Bowel cancer is the SECOND biggest killer of all the cancers. More needs to be done to diagnose younger people sooner!

On 26th May, my life changed forever. After putting off a change in bowel habits for over 6 months, I finally bit the bullet and saw my GP.

Heading to the colonoscopy I was convinced that I had IBS and was already planning diet restrictions to see what may help (dairy, gluten etc).

Almost immediately the tumour appeared on the screen and the camera struggled to get past it.

I was led to a room where my husband would soon be called in to join me and I was told that I have cancer.

A CT scan showed that the cancer thankfully had not yet spread which meant I could immediately go full steam ahead to have the tumour and surrounding section of bowel and tissues removed.

On the 22nd June I underwent a High Anterior Resection. There were a few complications that have hindered recovery; Sepsis of the main wound (a common risk given the nature of the procedure) and Paralytic Ileus as a result of the infection (the bowel stops working completely). I spent 12 days in hospital with incredible round the clock care from CSWs, Nurses, Doctors and Consultants.

On 7th July I received my Histology (the biopsy of the tumour removed).

The Tumour was graded a 4 which means it had grown through and out the other side of the bowel and was ready to spread. Of the surrounding lymph nodes removed, 3 contained the cancer cells.

The chances of the cancer returning are very high so Chemotherapy is due to start in the next 6 weeks - once I have fully recovered from surgery and strong enough to handle it.

In a world that feels somewhat out of control right now I have decided to be in control of one element, my hair! It is a widely known fact that Chemo can cause thinning of the hair and make you quite poorly and tired so I have decided to seek the help of an old family hairdresser and get the chop on Saturday 30th July. 

With so much hair to chop, I have chosen to donate my hair to The Princess Trust 

I really hope to raise lots of funds and lots of awareness of this hideous disease so that younger people can be caught with this cancer much earlier than me!

Thanks for reading and for your continued love and support on my journey xxx

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We’re the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity.We fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.We’re here to stop people dying of bowel cancer.