Tina Muggleton, Milton Keynes

I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer aged 56 in March 2023.

I was at the cinema one Sunday in March 2023 when I felt a pain on my right side. I didn’t think anything of it, but the next day, it was much worse. I went to A&E and they diagnosed with me a UTI. By the Friday I was still in pain, so I went back to hospital and was admitted for a week.

They did a CT scan, an MRI scan and then a colonoscopy, through which they found several polyps in my bowel. I saw a gastroenterologist who advised me that surgery was needed. They couldn’t operate at that point as I had high levels of inflammation, which meant there was a risk of bowel perforation. In April, I was able to have my operation. It turned out that the tumour was a lot bigger than they’d expected, but they were able to remove it all.

The next step was chemotherapy, which didn’t go smoothly. I was on one day of infusion then two weeks of tablets, then one week off, and the process would then start again. The tablets were really aggressive and didn’t agree with me at all. I ended up in hospital for 11 days with Clostridium difficile.

I’m now on much kinder chemotherapy which is doing its job. I have one day of infusion, then three days on a pump with the dose reduced to 80%, rather than the 100% I was originally on. I also have a PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) to make things easier.

I’m very lucky to work in the hospital I was treated in and the support I’ve had has been second to none. The cancer unit where I have my treatment has been excellent, and they make you feel like a person, not just a patient.

Mentally it’s been hard, and I’ve really struggled to sleep. My husband has to force me to go to bed, but I end up getting up at 1 or 2 am. I can never sleep the night before my bloods or chemo. The slightest twinge or pain scares me, and I worry the cancer has come back.

I have what I call a ‘wobble book’ that I write my wobbles in which does help me manage my fear. My friends and family have been amazing, and I don’t think I would’ve got through any of this without them. But most credit goes to my husband who’s been my rock throughout it all. He’s been there for me every step of the way and I would’ve crumbled without him. I’ll have my next scan a year on from my diagnosis and while I’m terrified of the results, I know that this is the new normal for us and we’ll have to adjust.

I know it sometimes can be difficult to get an appointment with the GP and it can also be a long wait in A&E, but these visits can save your life. If anyone reading this doesn’t feel right, don’t wait, or put off a visit. Listen to your body and get it checked out.

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