My name is Sally and I am telling my story to raise awareness and to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

I have been married 14 years and am a proud Mum to 2 boys aged 8 and 2.

My story starts in September 2025 after I had noticed a change in my bowel habits over the summer, I decided to call the doctors. They offered me an appointment that day and as my boys were both at school, I decided to go along. I met the practice paramedic who decided to do full bloods and a FIT test. A few days later, the practice called to advise I have a low red blood cell count showing I was anaemic and that there was evidence of blood in my FIT test.

As the tests had shown these results, I was being referred for a gastroscopy and colonoscopy under the 2 week cancer referral pathway.

Of course, the very mention of cancer scared me and my family but as I am generally fit and healthy and in my early 40's, we thought it was a precautionary measure and awaited the date for the examinations.

In the meantime, I was referred for a further blood tests.

Exactly a month after my first visit to the doctors, the day of the examinations arrived and I felt nervous going in, but equally quite calm at the same time.

I was advised by the nurse that I would find out the results the same day which came as a surprise but would be good that I didn't have to wait for the test results.

After the examinations, I waited for the consultant to see me. He advised that the gastroscopy was clear, however the colonoscopy had found a 5cm malignant tumour. Hearing the words that I have cancer made my world crash around me and to say myself and my husband were devastated would be an understatement.

We left the hospital in silence and shock.

Since the day I was told on 11th October 2025 to now has been an absolute whirlwind and to be honest still doesn't feel real.

After the biopsy, I was told I have MMR deficient lower sigmoid colon cancer which is a genetic cancer. We had our first meeting at our local hospital and due to my young age and no family history, my oncologist advised I am eligible to take part in a clinical trial. That same day, I had a video consultation with the lead oncologist of the clinical trial who is based at UCLH (University College London Hospitals).

Since this first meeting, I have been to London for CT scans, ECG's, a lot of blood tests and 3 cycles of immunotherapy. Going to London has added another aspect to this chapter where both myself and my husband are self employed and ensuring our 2 boys are in the best hands whilst we are away.

In the next few weeks, I will be in London for a CT scan to see that the immunotherapy has worked by shrinking the tumour in readiness for surgery and to meet the surgical team.

The surgery I am having in February will be removing part of my sigmoid colon where the tumour is and the surrounding lymph nodes.

Being part of a clinical trial will mean I am under their care for 3 years with regular colonoscopies and monitoring which can only be a good thing.

Another aspect of this chapter is that where my cancer is genetic, I will be having a genetics test carried out to see if I have something called Lynch Syndrome but the main thing at the moment is getting through surgery and the recovery.

So that is my story. I cannot stress enough to everyone reading my story if you notice a change in your bowl habits no matter how small it is, PLEASE GO TO YOUR DOCTOR. Yes, I was embarrassed going to talk to a stranger about my toilet habits but they talk about this sort of thing every single day and if it saves your life, it’s worth talking about.

The 11th April 2026 marks 6 months since being diagnosed and 2 months since my surgery and myself, family members and friends are walking 10 miles along the beautiful coastline that we are all so lucky to call our home to raise awareness and of course raise as much money as we can do.  

I am raising money for Cancer Research, just like Deborah James AKA BowelBabe did to provide funds for research, clinical trials and to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about my story, sharing to the wider community and for any donations which will help to fight this awful disease.