Linda rang her GP and he told her to come to the surgery for a physical check-up, he couldn’t notice anything too unusual and thought perhaps it could be IBS. Her GP decided to refer her on for a colonoscopy as a precaution.

When Linda awoke following the colonoscopy in July she was told the doctor would provide her with an update once her husband arrived “I knew then, something was wrong. He told me they had found a tumour about 5cms up my rectum, just by my bowel and that it was cancerous. He said they had also found secondary tumours in my liver.

I was in complete shock and asked what stage I was, he said it was a stage 4 bowel cancer.”

Linda’s medical team had a treatment plan prepared which included six sessions of FOLFOX chemotherapy. As part of this treatment Linda was given a chemo port so she was able to spend some of the treatment time in hospital and some of the time at home.

Linda had to go back to work for financial reasons “I haven’t insurance or a medical card. I have young kids, my youngest is only 4, so it is something I just have to do. Cancer doesn’t knock on your door two years before your diagnosis and tell you to start saving some money for what is about to happen.”

In mid-October, Linda was booked in for scans to receive an update on how her treatment was going. Linda was told the tumours in her liver had reduced in size and the tumour in her bowel had stabilised. Surgery was initially not an option for Linda but as she had responded well to treatment, her consultant felt it may now be a possibility. 

“I was told the best option was a liver resection, six more sessions of chemotherapy, some radiation and then surgery on my bowel. I was then booked in for the open surgery on my liver in January 2022. This took a little bit of time to recover from. The next step for me was six more sessions of chemotherapy. 

Unfortunately after I finished my chemotherapy a scan showed up two new nodules in my lungs. After this my consultant decided to put my active treatment and further surgery on hold for a little while.”

On reflecting on the changing nature of her treatment plan, Linda says “Your cancer journey often doesn’t go exactly how you expect it to. I found the not knowing the most difficult part of it all, it has really affected my mental health. The ripple effect of it on my family is also very tough. I have documented a lot of my journey on my podcast ‘Just The Twomor of Us’ and my Instagram ‘When you have Hope’”

Last month Linda underwent a CT scan following the pause in her active treatment “The cancer is now in my lungs and there is also a spot on my liver, despite my surgery. I feel angry and should never have paused my active treatment. 

I asked my oncologist what my options were going forward. He said if I didn’t proceed with more chemotherapy, I would have three to six months to live and if I did proceed with more chemotherapy, I would have eighteen months to a two years to live. I am absolutely heartbroken. I have so many emotions but have decided to start a new chemotherapy which will be every second Friday for 46 hours. I have also had to make the decision to retire from work which has also broken my heart.”

On advice she would give to others, Linda says “I think it is important to listen to your body and have your voice heard by your medical professional. For each appointment I go in and I have a list of questions prepared, I try to do as much research as I can. We need to look out for ourselves. Never be afraid to say what you want in relation to your health and care plan.”