In February 2022, I was admitted to hospital with appendicitis. I was in severe pain, and within 24 hours of being admitted, my appendix had been removed. As far as I was concerned, after a few weeks of recovery my life would return to normal — but I was very wrong.

Two weeks after the surgery, I was called back to see the consultant at Milton Keynes University Hospital and took my Mum with me. He informed us that they had found a 14mm tumour at the base of my appendix. At first, it was hard to take in. Long medical terms like “neuroendocrine” were being used alongside frightening words such as “cancer” and “chemotherapy.” My mum and I were both in complete shock. The consultant and cancer nurse answered our initial questions and gave us their contact details in case we needed anything further. We walked out in a daze.

Soon after, countless appointments were arranged. I urgently needed MRI and CT scans, specialist blood tests, and a colonoscopy. An appointment was then made in Oxford to discuss the next steps. There, we were reassured that the type of cancer I had was very slow growing, which gave us time to make decisions. I was told that it was unlikely the cancer had spread and that they believed it had been removed during the appendectomy.

This left me with two options:

1. Leave things as they were and have yearly scans to monitor for any regrowth, or

2. Undergo a right-sided hemicolectomy, where the right side of the bowel and surrounding lymph nodes would be removed to ensure all cancer cells were gone.

It was explained that option two offered the best long-term outcome. However, there were risks involved, if complications arose. Thankfully, the doctors believed this would be unlikely because I was young and healthy.

After discussing everything carefully with my family and having a return appointment with the consultant at Milton Keynes (where I was strongly advised on having the surgery) I decided to go ahead. On 18th May 2022, I underwent the hemicolectomy. Due to ongoing COVID restrictions and being 19 at the time, nobody was able to enter the hospital with me so for the procedure and the next 10 days I was on my own.

Thankfully, the surgery went well, but the recovery was long and extremely painful. I spent the first 48 hours in High Dependency. The removed bowel and lymph nodes were sent to histology for testing, but unfortunately 1 out of 23 lymph nodes tested positive for a neuroendocrine tumour.

Although it was in one lymph node, the doctors explained that the cancer still might be localised and may not have spread further. I was referred to Churchill Hospital to meet with a specialist nurse who discussed the next steps with me.

Everything happened so quickly. The specialist nurse was amazing and explained that I would need to attend Guys Cancer Hospital in London for a Gallium Dotatate scan. Radioactive Gallium would be injected into my body, and during the scan it would attach itself to any cancer cells, causing them to light up like little stars if any were present. I also underwent specialist blood and urine tests in Oxford.

The Gallium scan itself was frightening. I remember sitting in the room waiting while the nurse entered wearing a lead vest, protective clothing, and a radiation detection badge. She was carrying a small lead box with a cannula attached at one end and a plunger at the other. The scan itself was manageable, but afterwards I felt extremely unwell and had to avoid close contact with small babies and pregnant women for a while.

Waiting for the results felt endless. In the meantime, I started a phased return to work and tried to regain some sense of normality.

Finally, on 24th September 2022 at 4:20pm, I returned to Oxford with my family and was told the words I had been desperately hoping to hear I was cancer clear. To be honest, I can barely remember anything else that was said because my head was spinning with emotion and relief. I was told I would need yearly scans for at least five years, but no chemotherapy or radiotherapy was needed.

I am now three and a half years cancer free. It has taken time — both physically and mentally — to come to terms with everything that happened. Last year, the consultant told me “to go live my life’ and I decided to do just that.

I started indoor climbing, going to the gym, running, and eating much more healthily. I had always wanted to complete the Three Peaks Challenge, so I made that my goal. In May 2026, I completed it — summiting Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon in just under 24 hours, completing the entire challenge in 27 hours. It was exhilarating and marked the beginning of a whole new chapter in my life.

Next year, I will be climbing Mount Toubkal, which is more than twice the height of Ben Nevis and will be an even greater challenge — but I cannot wait.

This time, I have decided to raise money for the neuroendocrine cancer charity I also want to make clear that this challenge is entirely self-funded. Every cost involved — including travel, accommodation, equipment, and training — is being paid for personally. That means every single donation made will go directly to the charity. If you feel able to spare a pound or two, please visit my JustGiving page. Any donation, no matter how small, would mean the world to me and the charity.