Sharon Applin, Dorset
I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in March 2020 aged 55.
I've been married to my husband Sean for 32 years. I have a daughter called Kelly and a son-in-law called Scott and a grandson of eight months. Being a nana is just amazing. My hobbies are being with my 32 year old pony which I've had since a foal, going away in our VW camper, eating out and socialising with family and friends.
My diagnosis started when I was suffering from irritation of the anus. There were no normal signs of bowel cancer, like bleeding or diarrhoea, so the doctor started treating me for piles for about three weeks. However, they soon found that the medication that they had given me was not working and that my bottom was opening up and changing.
I was referred for an appointment with the oncology team and a biopsy at Poole Hospital. It was that day I was told I had a squamous cell cancer of the anus. At that point, I didn’t feel unwell but things were changing with my anus. The time it took from having the first scan to the biopsy which confirmed the cancer was about two weeks.
When I was told I had cancer, my mind went to total mush and I was very anxious. All I could think about was my husband and daughter and how I was going to tell them. It was a total shock, as you never think that it will happen to you.
My treatment started about five to six weeks after the biopsy. I was given radiotherapy and chemotherapy. I had radiotherapy every day for 5.5 weeks and chemo in tablet form from home. At this point, I didn’t need surgery. Radiotherapy was hard as it made me feel sick and tired, so I’d spend a lot of time sleeping. I also experienced a lot of diarrhoea and the pain was getting worse. Mentally, I always thought I was a strong person, but nothing had prepared me for what I had to face. Physically, I couldn’t do a lot of the things I was used to doing, so I was relying on my husband and daughter. I coped by taking one day at a time.
After treatment I was clear for one year. In 2022 the same cancer came back and was 9cm into my pelvis. Survival was six months to one year max.
Today, I’m in a really good place. I’m three years clear of cancer after I had a major surgery called a total pelvic exenteration at Royal Southampton Hospital, which has totally changed my body and my life. I now live with two stomas and a VRAM perineal sleeve, called a Barbie butt.
All my scans are showing good results, with no recurrence of any cancer. I now live with lymphedema and osteomyelitis from the surgery, but I’m alive and happy. In the future, I look forward to another grandchild, more holidays and more time with my family.
The medical teams at Poole and Southampton hospitals were just amazing. They were always there for help and advice. I owe my life to the surgical team at Southampton Hospital too. They looked after me from the moment I arrived and the aftercare was over and above what anyone would expect to have.
I didn’t know until after my surgery that there was so much information out there for patients. Now I know what’s available, I try to give these details to others going through the same diagnoses. Total pelvic exenteration is not one of the well-known surgeries and is very complex. I love helping other patients that are undergoing the same treatment and operation that I had.
I would say to people: listen to your body, not just the common symptoms of bowel cancer. We are all different, and if I hadn’t listened to my body, I may not be here now.
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