Leonie Yeoman, Devon
I was diagnosed with bowel cancer on the 27 September 2022, two days after my 42nd birthday.
I'd been to the GP a few times for abdominal discomfort and frequent heartburn but was told I had IBS and anxiety. After several months I developed a very mild but persistent ache and this led to a locum doctor issuing an at home FIT test. This came back positive and I was referred on the two-week pathway for a colonoscopy but reassured by a GP that the chances of it being cancer were highly unlikely due to my age.
Initially I was told by a consultant after a colonoscopy and CT colonography that I did have bowel cancer, but it was stage 1 or 2. Hideous news, but it could have been worse.
My treatment plan was quick. I had surgery to remove the tumour on 6 November 2022 but once the tumour was analysed it turned out I was stage 3 and because I was high risk of recurrence I would need “mop up” chemotherapy. It was a real mental battle going from what I believed was stage 1 overnight to stage 3.
The surgery was keyhole and I recovered surprisingly well from that. I was advised beforehand that I may need a stoma and was marked up for one a week prior to surgery just in case. This was one of the hardest things for me to deal with and this just felt so undignified. My dad had lived with a stoma for a few years and it wasn’t easy for him and the thought of it terrified me. He also had bowel cancer and sadly passed away in January 2021 (not to the disease) and I still find it hard to comprehend that less than two years later I would embark on my own similar journey.
My surgeon was literally my lifesaver and I'll be eternally grateful to him and the team at Derriford Hospital. My friend Priya is an ICU nurse at Derriford (and a brilliant one at that) and she supported me and my husband in the hours after surgery and her support at that time was so appreciated.
In January 2023 I had CAPOX IV chemotherapy for three months. In Derriford Covid restrictions were still in place and I had to go through this treatment alone, my husband used to have to leave me at the door. I would spend about four to six hours having intravenous chemotherapy and it was so challenging. It was a long time so sit in your own thoughts fearing the unknown, I found it difficult. The side effects were tough and I still suffer with neuropathy. Chemotherapy also triggered early menopause, but this is a small price to pay.
I'm now on the five-year surveillance programme, I have blood tests every six months, regular scans and I had a private colonoscopy in November which was thankfully clear. This is due at year four on the NHS but I wanted the reassurance at year three.
My husband James was my rock and I'm incredibly lucky to have a supportive family and some amazing friends who were a lifeline, they cooked meals for us when I was on chemo and recovering from surgery, delivered food and gifts, visited me in hospital (even when I didn’t feel like visitors) and really helped us through an awful time.
My employers were also a huge support. I work for a small family run business and I was well looked after by them, they delivered food, gifts and anything else I needed, I had no pressure to return to work until I was ready and they accommodated any needs I had when I did.
Cancer is a scary diagnosis and a constant mental battle but there have been positives to my story and I have learned a lot about myself, my strength, determination and my character. It makes you realise who and what is important and how blessed I'm in life. I would say I'm a different person to who I was before and I really try to prioritise my physical and mental health.
I've recently had genetic testing and was so relieved to hear there is no genetic link in my family so my dad’s diagnosis and my own really was very bad luck.
If I could give any advice to someone going through similar I would say take it a day at a time, accept help when it's offered and take advantage of websites like Bowel Cancer UK where you can reach out through the forums and get support from someone who knows exactly what you are going through.
