My name is Linda and I have stage 4 Colorectal Signet Ring Cell adenocarcinoma. My story goes like this....

In March 2015, at age 47, I discovered a huge lump on the right side of my abdomen. I left it for a while as I thought it would go away. After a week I thought I had better go to my GP.

When I went to the doctor, that very day he sent me off for immediate ultrasounds and blood tests. The next day when I went to get the results, he told me that I had a 25cm x 15cm x 15cm ovarian tumour on my left side, the huge lump I felt was in fact my uterus being pushed out to the right.

Two days later, I had surgery to remove the tumour, which they first thought due to its size, was benign. I also had to have a total Hysterectomy and was then told it was cancer...suspected ovarian cancer. Days later, after pathology testing, it was found that the tumour was actually a secondary cancer, and it was thought that I may be bowel cancer.

I was then referred to a colorectal surgeon who performed a Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy. Upon waking, I was given the horrible news that I HAD BOWEL CANCER.

If that wasn’t enough - I was told that I had very rare type, that the ovarian secondary was a Krukenberg tumour, and I had Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma (only 2% of population have this).

In May 2015 I had a Right Hemicolectomy to remove the bowel tumour and infected Lymph Nodes, as the tumour was in the Transverse Colon. I then started Folfox with Avastin six weeks after surgery.

At round three I ended up in hospital with an abdominal abscess. I had four mini surgeries over 11 days to fix that. But then that turned into and abdominal fistula. I only had 10 rounds of chemo as the fistula wasn’t healing. Afterwards I was cancer free but living with a fistula.

In December 2016 I had another bowel resection to fix the fistula, two cancerous nodules taken out and a massive hernia repair. I was cancer free again until August 2017 when the cancer was shown to be back in my scar tissue and my Spleen (no surgery this time). I am now back on chemo indefinitely. Last PET/CT scan showed the tumours shrinking.

I BELIEVE I’M A KICK ASS WOMAN, KICKING CANCER’S ASS...