Hi all,

My journey with Cancer started in 2017 with the discovery of bowel cancer after I had become very anaemic, so surgery was required followed by 6 months chemotherapy which starting in January 2018

Then in March 2018 the discovery of Endometrial cancer, so my chemotherapy was cut short to have my second operation, a hysterectomy and ovaries removed in June 2018.

Then a metastasis was seem on my liver so operation number three in August 18 to remove tumour from my liver in August 18. Then in the Autumn 5 weeks of pelvic node radiotherapy!

2018 was quite a year and I had my fingers tightly crossed that this was it ( for the time being anyway ) Until in 2019 a second metastasis was found in my liver so another liver surgery.

Just want to add that in 2021/22 breast cancer was detected on a routine mammogram.Luckily it was small but I opted for a double mastectomy anyway as I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life fearing more cancers]

Going back I had asked for genetic testing right after my surgery in 2017 for bowel cancer fearing for my 4 children who were then in their thirties however was told it wasn’t available.

Luckily on one of my visits to the QE Birmingham and before my first liver surgery in 2018 I was approached by a young man involved with the large genome testing that was going on across the country at the time. I jumped at the opportunity!

Lynch Syndrome was found

I want to stress the importance of finding out if you have LYNCH SYNDROME.

Thankfully in recent years hospitals are becoming more aware of it when it was little heard of in 2017 and it was only by chance that my inherited Lynch gene was discovered

This is just advice from me to anyone who has bowel cancer or just has it in the family ask to be tested for Lynch.

My son has inherited it from me and is in his forties. He has regular colonoscopies so if they discover bowel cancer it will be treated early before it spreads.

I want to take part in The London Marathon to challenge myself, force me to keep fit and hopefully have longer time to spend with my friends, family and grandchildren.

I strongly wish to spread information to everyone about Lynch and the opportunity that is available to get tested for this genetic disease especially if there is bowel cancer anywhere in your family

I am raising money for both:-

ST MARKS HOSPITAL

The National Bowel Hospital (informally St Mark’s)

The only hospital in the world to specialise entirely in intestinal and colorectal medicine. St Mark’s is closely associated with Imperial College London

Their vision is to create a future free from the fear of bowel disease through research, education and dissemination of clinical excellence.

“Thousands of people in England with Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that increases the risk of cancer, are to be offered “game changing” screening on the NHS. The world-first programme aims to reduce the number of cancer cases and identify them earlier when successful treatment is more likely.”

Also LYNCH SYNDROME UK

A registered charity and in their words

Lynch Syndrome UK aims to ensure that for the public benefit people and their families affected by Lynch Syndrome are provided with support in the form of information, signposting, and listening, to increase public awareness of the syndrome, educating members of the general public and healthcare professionals.

 Their vision is that all people affected by Lynch Syndrome in the UK have access to standardised screening, thus enabling prevention of the development of cancer and early diagnosis enabling survival.

I am hoping to brisk walk and jog my way round the London Marathon in under 8 hours as if over that I don’t think I get a medal so please wish me luck 😂

Angela x

PS

As I am raising money for two causes so you may find two pages and I can’t join them I would like to keep donations on each page as equal as possible ❤️

Please don’t donate on both 🙈 xx

A