Natalie Hopper, North Devon
In March 2023, I was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, aged 42.
About me
I have two grown up children; Lauren who is 26 and Owen who is 19. I’ve worked in hospitality, Housing and Social Care over the years, and up until my diagnosis, I had my own business which I started in 2018 as a professional organiser.
At first, I thought a bowel cancer diagnosis meant I was going to die, but the journey I’ve been on has taught me so much about living my best life.
How I was diagnosed
I’d been to my GP a few times due to stomach pain which stopped me from being able to lie on my left side. I also raised concerns that I never felt ‘empty’ after going to the toilet, which is when the GP mentioned it could be something like colitis (inflammation of the digestive system) or diverticulitis (a condition which affects the bowel and causes tummy pain). I was told that it was unlikely to be cancer as I was too young. I had blood tests which showed inflammatory indicators, but a stool sample showed no evidence of cancer.
After taking antibiotics for diverticulitis, I still had symptoms so went back to my GP. They referred me for a CT scan the next morning. This found a 20cm tumour in my bowel, which they said was 90% likely to be cancerous.
A day after the scan, I had emergency bowel surgery and spent the next two weeks in hospital. I had to get a stoma due to a large part of my colon being removed. At a follow up appointment, my oncologist told me that the cancer had spread to my liver and was therefore stage 4.
I was floored by this and thought that it meant I was going to die. I was in complete shock as my oncologist told me that there was hope, but it was going to be a tough journey.
Chemotherapy
In March 2023, I started chemotherapy. My main side effects included pain and stinging in the nerves of my face, fingers and toes (known as cold dysesthesia), an inability to tolerate the cold, including cold drinks which would make my throat feel like it was closing. My side effects varied with each cycle of chemo, but I nearly always experienced fatigue. Luckily, I have an army of friends and family who supported me every day. My daughter and I moved in together so she could help me through treatment.
I had four cycles of chemo and then in January 2024, had more surgery to remove the part of my liver that the cancer had spread to. In March 2024, I started another round of chemo as a preventative measure to try and ‘mop up’ any cancer cells that might still be there. However, I had a bad reaction and after taking some time to think about it and speaking to my oncologist, I made the decision to stop chemo.
Throughout this journey, I’ve learned how important it is to make your own choices. It’s your life and your need to make the best choices for you. I was told that I could be on chemo for the rest of my life. I didn’t feel like this was in my best interest, physically or mentally; my quality of life is more important to me than preventative measures.
I’m not completely out of the woods health-wise, but I refuse to keep still and wait around just in case cancer raises its ugly head again. My only goal in life these days is to be happy and to help those around me be happy too.
I’ll continue to be scanned every three months to see if anything grows. Currently, there’s been no evidence of active disease in my bowel or liver.
Life beyond treatment
I feel very lucky to be here. When I heard the words “stage 4” I thought that was it, but the healthcare I’ve received has been amazing. I still get down days, but a strong mindset has kept me going. I also found relief through sharing my story on my blog called ‘My life full’.
At the end of 2023, I met my partner Matt, something I never thought could happen whilst going through cancer, and he’s been a huge support.
In August 2024, I decided to take on a new challenge and I’m now running a local pub. I feel like myself again and I’m embracing life every day. I still need to prioritise my health, but I’m not going to wait around ‘just in case’. Life is too short to sit on the sidelines and watch the world go by.
Learning to be your own advocate
Living with cancer and cancer treatment is both physically and psychologically challenging and there is no right or wrong way to navigate it. Cancer changes you and your whole perspective on life. It forced me to re-evaluate what is truly important and appreciate the time I have left on this earth.
For anyone else going through this; never be afraid to be your own advocate and question anything you’re not sure of. Get that second opinion or take someone to your medical appointments to speak up for you if you aren’t feeling confident enough to do it yourself. It’s your life, own it!
