Ok, so if you have read my first post you will know I’ve been through a bit of a cancer ordeal in the last two and a half years. Before we get into the ‘things’ they don’t tell you’ and other handy tips’, I feel I’d best let you know a bit more about myself and my story.

I’m a 55 year old who was working in a high school during the dreaded year 2020. Unfortunately my Uncle was in ‘end of life care’ which was a 7 hour trip from my home town. So between taking students through their final year in High School and travelling down and back to see him I felt tired, but like anyone else in that situation, figured it was pretty normal. Add the dreaded Covid to that and it was very, very normal. I had absolutely no idea there might be something else lurking in my future.

OK at this point full disclosure….I hadn’t had any screenings for cancer even though I’d passed the magic number of 50 years old. I figured I was fine and honestly was a tad too busy to worry abut those things. My GP and I worked out that up until everything happened I’d only seen him twice since 2012! In hindsight maybe I should have been more aware but I also think blaming yourself for cancer helps no-one. There is absolutely no point in blame when it comes to cancer.

So I was 7 hours from home and felt a pain in my stomach that I thought was just way too many coffees and maybe stress one evening. A few Panadol’s later and next day, fresh as a daisy, I was visiting my uncle and sorting his end of life care. The pain returned that night and got to the point I thought “I think this may be appendicitis”. However, I knew it couldn’t have been because I’d had my appendix out in Norway at 18 ( definitely a story for another blog I think.) So I ended up travelling in an ambulance for the first time in my life at 52 years of age and being hospitalised with ‘diverticulitis” which I’d never heard of before! What on earth is diverticulitis? Basically there was a small perforation in my bowel which could be fixed with antibiotics apparently and I was messaging people saying “in hospital but all good.” Wrong! The pain returned I and genuinely can’t remember the next few days.

Woke up from surgery in ICU (where I stayed for a while) and my surgeon informed me I has an emergency bowel operation caused by grade 3B cancer. I was actually very lucky to be alive and I suppose it’s from here my Cancer adventures begin in earnest.

Will continue with the story next post. Please remember every Cancer survivor has a different story. Mine is a tad dramatic but the effects are similar on everyone. Basically no matter how you are diagnosed it’s shite! Until next time

Gen