Anona Gauld, Aberdeenshire
I was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer in late August 2023, aged 40.
Prior to my diagnosis I was living my normal very busy life as a wife, mum of three children and working full time with my own property leasing company. From around February 2023 I was getting pain in my right shoulder, which I didn’t know the cause of. It would only appear every so often, I contacted my GP and they weren’t sure what it was, possibly a pulled muscle and prescribed painkillers to take.
In June 2023 my bowel habits were becoming more frequent, but I put it down to an intolerance and cut gluten from my diet to see if this helped, also still experiencing the unexplained shoulder pain I made an appointment with my GP again I asked for a full check (bloods and stool) just to see what was going on. My bloods were all over the place at this point and my stool sample was also abnormal.
I was referred for a colonoscopy urgently and had this in late July 2023. I kept busy until my appointment which they couldn’t perform fully as the camera couldn’t get past the tumour in my rectum. I was giving all the leaflets about bowel cancer at this appointment and was told to wait for further scans.
I went to the out of hours doctors at the end of August due to severe pain in my right side under my rib and shoulder and was sent for a scan which revealed a large tumour on my liver. I was glad to finally have answers to the shoulder pain I had been suffering with for months however it was a huge shock to find out that not only did I have a tumour in my bowel but it had spread to my liver.
I started treatment within a few weeks, I had a PICC line fitted and began 12 cycles of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which ended in March 2024. I then had a short course of radiotherapy on my bowel tumour. Followed by a liver resection in April 2024, which took place in Edinburgh. Soon after I had bowel surgery in Aberdeen and now have a permanent colostomy.
I had prepared myself for both surgeries; it was tough, and the recovery was long as they were so close together but I got through it. I was in remission until May 2025 when I had spots appear on my liver again, I soon had a portacath fitted and began treatment again. I completed another course of chemotherapy and immunotherapy in December 2025, I am now waiting to hear what the next stage in treatment is.
I have remained positive throughout my journey, truly believing you need a healthy mindset and strength to fight this horrible disease. I have managed to continue working, enjoying my hobbies of Scottish country dancing and motorsport and living life to the full. I also have managed to fulfil my role each year as Secretary for the Grampian Forest Rally.
