Please tick giftaid, it’s free!! Cancer is shit. Nuff said. But being 25 with cancer is a whole new challenge. Kidney Cancer is the 7th most common in the UK, yet I'd never heard of it until the past few months. I had no idea where my kidneys were and only had a basic idea of what their function was and due to my ignorance I've lived with cancer for over a year without knowing. I wish I caught it sooner. That's why I am fundraising, not for people to feel sorry for me or send me 'thinking of you' messages. I've processed it, I've come to terms with the fact that my ignorance has led to my late diagnosis. But I don't want anyone else to leave it like I did, no one else should be fobbed off by doctors and told 'oh it might be your contraception', 'oh it could be stress', 'just try this tablet'. I had so many symptoms since 2020 and hadn't realized. 

I'm lucky its contained to my Kidney and not spread to other organs, I am lucky you have 2 kidneys. I am lucky I have amazing friends and family around me. 

I'm not lucky that I've allowed my tumour to grow a foot long and now need the removal of that and my Kidney. I am due to undergo a day long surgery in two weeks, which will mean months of recovery. I am trying my best to remain positive, but I know its gonna be a tough ride. I often wonder, what if I chased it sooner? What if I didn't let Tik Tok convince me that persistent bloating is normal? What if I listened to everyone telling my stomach shouldn't be that firm.

Kidney cancer often is not noticed because Kidneys are internal and it is hard to spot a growth internally. Mine being the size it is, it is pretty bloody visible. My students thought I was pregnant in 2020 and since then, 6 others and even the guy in the chippy has congratulated me on my non-existent pregnancy. Big shout out to my Sports therapist for noticing it wasn't normal to feel a persons liver!

Here's the symptoms that I BEG you not to shrug off. Some are the common ones you find on google, some are my personal symptoms.

1. Pain/aching in lower back, usually at one side 

2. Persistent bloating and/or a visible lump

3. Blood in wee

4. Sudden weight loss. I've always been stick thin, but I should have questioned why I have never been able to add weight, even when eating twice as much as I should. My inability to add weight is due to cancer cells using up twice as much energy as exercise would and my stomach having no space due to the tumour is pushing all my organs asside. My stomach has basically 0 space to fill with and process food.

5. Loss of appetite

6. Change of bowels e.g. going to the toilet more or less. For me, it was going to the toilet straight after eating or drinking, usually within minutes, again because my organs have no space. If I don't go, I am in stomach agony for a few hours.

7. Fatigue (and I mean REALLY tired).

8. Anaemia

Not exactly the most glamourous things to think about. But don't be as ignorant as me. Research your body and contact a doctor PLEASE. Life is too fucking short. There's always someone out there with it worse and I know I am one of the lucky ones. My age makes it shit that I got diagnosed so young, but it also means I have a higher chance of survival. Plus I am a badass so I know I can get through it.

Following my surgery I am going to be in a LOT of pain. Physios and my nurse are amazing and are going to encouraging me to get up and moving, which I know I won't want to do. To raise awareness of the symptoms and encourage myself to make the small steps to recovery, I am setting a steps challenge. Not a specific amount of steps, because my recovery is dependent on what happens the day of my surgery. But I am going to need the encouragement to move. Every donation will be the boost I need to sit up and get out of bed during my recovery. This is especially important as I need to encourage my organs to move naturally into their original places and I can only do this through regular movement. It's my way of keeping positive. So please a) do your research and contact a doctor if you have any symptoms b) donate and share to raise awareness. You can find more about the great charity I am raising for at:   kcuk.org.uk If you have any questions about Kidney Cancer please feel free to message me anytime, I am happy to share my experience to prevent others going through this. 

Lots of love, 

badass Dani xo

ps, if you've been holding off doing something due to laziness or worry, this is your sign to just fuckin do it. What could go wrong?