On that fateful day, March 22nd, 2021, due to COVID restrictions, I was given the news no-one wants to hear, alone. I now had peritoneal metastases - the cancer was advanced at stage 4 having spread to my tummy lining and was widespread. I was told I had months, rather than years, to live. Chemotherapy could be an option, but only to delay the inevitable. 

I was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in April, 2019. After a period of chemoradiation, surgery and a further six months of chemotherapy, the cancer was kept at bay until these latest developments. 

Tuoc and I, who have built up a fair amount of resilience over the last two and a half years, sprung into action as swiftly as possible and looked for options: we decided to be pragmatic but also proactive and hopeful! The following day, we joined an online support group run by Bowel Cancer UK called Chat Together (run once a week for six weeks), which places a small group of people with bowel cancer together over Zoom; this aided our coping mechanisms enormously. This support group, alongside the excellent forums and Bowel Cancer UK facebook pages, has given us priceless information and nuggets of wisdom as we seek to extend my life. 

I am under the wonderful oncological care of the Alaw Ward in Ysbyty Gwynedd and I am fortunate that my oncologist is supportive of my decisions and ideas. I also have the most amazing district nurses who look after me so well: I would be lost without them. Alongside this, I am now also under the care of a Professor in London. But for Bowel Cancer UK, I wouldn't have been aware of the options that MIGHT be available to me in the coming months. Many people are written off with my stage of disease but Tuoc and I are now exploring the following options: 1. maintenance chemotherapy; 2. cyto-reductive and HIPEC surgery; 3. a trial called PIPAC. None of these options are likely to offer a cure but all would give me hope, providing quality of life can be somewhat maintained. Option 2 - the major surgery - is what we have been targeting since the diagnosis. We need the tumours to reduce more, but in working with the Professor, we now believe we are tantalisingly close to achieving that aim.    

I currently live with a stoma, a catheter, a PICC line, and am undergoing a brutal chemotherapy regime which often leaves my face, scalp and body in a scarred mess (a sign that the chemotherapy is doing its job!). Some weeks, I am very well. Some weeks it can difficult to walk and some weeks it is difficult to eat and wash - but I am still here and I am grateful to everyone who checks in, offers support, or gives me a second thought from time to time.  

A few years ago, completing 100 miles in a couple of months would not have been such a daunting challenge! However, because my everyday life is impeded by a number of obstacles, this is going to be target which will require strength and determination and the weeks when I have chemotherapy will be especially challenging. 

I plan to walk 100 miles over the course of November and December, mainly following the circular Great Orme trail from West Shore time and time again until the target is met, in what I'm sure will often be stormy climes! (The circular trial is approximately 5.7 miles/9.17 km). I would love it if friends and family can join me on one of the walks. I would also love it if you can spare a small amount to contribute to a charity that might ultimately help me and many other people live longer. Please message me if you're interested in taking up the challenge one day: you can join me on one of the walks, we can catch up and you can keep me motivated! We will have a coffee in Providero café to reward ourselves!  

Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. They 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. They’re here to stop people dying of bowel cancer.