In 2018, something happened that will change my life forever. I was diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP for short) - which is a very rare form of cancer affecting around two people per million each year! 

Once I was diagnosed, my world crumbled. To be told that i would need two massive operations, a chemotherapy treatment AND I will loose numerous organs, inc my reproductive organs, I was devastated. I didn’t know who to go to or how I would find out about this very rare cancer... until I found Pseudomyxoma Survivor!

As Pseudomyxoma Peritonei is very rare, there are only two designated UK specialist treatment centres. I had my treatment and operations at The Christie! Pseudomyxoma Survivor work closely with The Christie and support research / families & patients as they go through their PMP journey!

So far, my PMP story is resulted in two operations - the first one was to remove my appendix and some mucin. After this operation, my diagnosis was given. This is where the support from the charity really stepped up! I couldn't have got through the long wait for my next part of my journey without them. I started to learn more about the language of cancer / how to prepare for hospital and to educate myself with knowledge about what was to happen. 

In August 2018, I had cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. This is called the 'Mother Of All Surgeries' - MOAS for short. This is something that is spoken about a lot within the support network provided by the charity. It was so reassuring to know i wasn't the only person going though this and most importantly, the charity provided me with HOPE. 

I had my gall bladder, spleen, omentum, both ovaries and both fallopian tube removed. I also had specific liver surface ablation and wiping / ablation of mucin throughout the area. I woke up from the operation and had a NG tube in my nose / chest, a central line in my neck which was providing liquid nutrients & pain relief / medicine, two canulars in my arm, a stomach drain, a catheter, an oxygen tube and an epidural (which didn’t do much for me!). 
The operation took ten hours to complete and I spent two days in intensive care.
After four days of extreme pain, nausea and several scans, I was told I had a complication after the operation. (which the team at The Christie were very quick to solve!)I had a bile leak which was causing me to have a variety of problems and meant I had toxic waste gathering inside my peritoneum.
I was transferred to Wythenshaw hospital for four days and I had an ERCP procedure. During the procedure a stent was put in place to resolve the leak.  Throughout all this - the charity remained my hope and guidance. 

Pseudomyxoma Survivor is a non-profit organization, run by patients and caregivers. They have a thriving support community supporting anyone whose life has been touched by pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) as well as appendix cancer and other peritoneal surface malignancies. They are completely dependent on voluntary donations. 

Pseudomyxoma Survivor helped support me through my diagnosis and recovery and now it’s time to give something back to them. I aim to raise awareness about this very rare cancer and to also raise much needed money for the charity.

Without the charity I wouldn’t have been able to put one foot in front of the other. They showed me there is life after cancer and I can continue / dream about the future. 

In 2019, I did my first (and only) 10k run... in 2020.... my next challenge is my first.... half marathon! I will be taking to the streets on London to run on behalf of this wonderful charity. It’s something I have never done before, and it’s definitely a challenge I have set myself! It will be a year and a half after my major surgery/ chemotherapy!  I will be wearing my charity vest with pride.

Please show as much support as you can, anything you can give would be much appreciated and will go towards a wonderful charity.

Thank you!🌟