Lynda is doing the Kiltwalk after the screening programme saved her life
Wednesday 23 August 2023
After the bowel cancer screening programme saved Lynda’s life, she decided to do the Dundee Kiltwalk to raise awareness.
This past year has been one of many up and downs, and every day I think about what could or couldn’t have happened since 15 April 2022. That date is significant as I arrived home after a great family holiday with my husband Phil, daughter Kay, her husband Ross and my two adorable grandsons Rory and Adam. Waiting for me was a letter from NHS Tayside advising that I had produced a positive result from a FIT test that I completed and sent off on the very day we set off for the trip!
To say this brought me back to earth with a bang was putting it mildly but as instructed, I called on the Monday morning to discuss next steps. The nurse on the phone was very helpful, explaining my options, but above all advised that not all positive results are bad news. So following all advice, I agreed to the first stage which was an endoscopy to determine what exactly was lurking about, if anything.
During my endoscopy, it was established that there was a tumour high up in the lower bowel. Nothing can prepare you for the diagnosis, especially when in my case, I didn’t have a clue that anything was wrong. I was only 64 at the time of diagnosis, felt 100% fit and I was ready to take on any challenges life would throw at me. That’s what’s made me agree to write this blog, to ensure that we keep spreading the word on how important the screening programmes are, as it saved my life without a doubt.
I had a meeting with a surgeon to explain what lay ahead. The surgeon said that the tumour had lay dormant for a while and that if I hadn’t taken part in the screening, we would’ve been having a very different conversation less than two years down the line.
I had barely left the hospital when I then got a call to say that I would be having an operation one week later. On the morning of the operation, I broke down - something I hadn’t done until that time, but the reality and seriousness of my health came home to roost like a tonne of bricks. Fortunately for me, although I lost a third of my bowel and they removed thirty lymph nodes, my surgeon seemed happy enough, but full results on the biopsies wouldn’t be ready for another two weeks.
When my results were ready, the nurse delivered excellent news. My operation had been a success and the all the lymph nodes were clear, so going forward, there would be no chemotherapy. That was the best news ever and champagne was opened that evening. As a survivor, (well so far), it’s been an emotional journey, but one I’m willing to make to spread word on how important the screening programme is, along with the brilliant work I hear goes on with Bowel Cancer UK.
I intend to do the Kiltwalk in Dundee with my daughter and a few friends to simply give something back to the charity. I’ve chosen this fundraiser as I‘ve done it before for other charities, but it’s been a few years since my last efforts so I’ve decided to pull on my walking boots and kilt one more time.
Like anything, it will be a challenge on the day, especially if too hot or worse – raining! If my previous Kiltwalks are anything to go by however, then the organisation, camaraderie and goodwill of other participants all help to make it enjoyable.
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