Hi I’m Kate always lived in the area grew up in studland brought my own family up in Swanage sadly just before Christmas I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer and have had endless appointments at least either at Poole or Bournemouth hospital for scans and oncologist or nurse appointments and most recently to prepare me for a huge surgery which entails bowel resection hysterectomy and have my ovaries removed which they predict will be a 6 to 7 hour surgery and a long recovery my partner has had to take time off to be at a majority of these appointments or my parents have taken me when I’ve felt I can do on my own or just need waiting room company .

I must admit that the whole thing has been terrifying I expected to be told I had a bowel issue but cancer at 43 never imagined that but who would age doesn’t mean you won’t even though for bowel cancer they have only just started screening at 50 instead of 60 .

One of my eldest children has helped massively with her younger sister because of my struggles with embarrassingly not wanting to be far from a toliet not nice but sadly has been a huge issue some people with bowel cancer don’t get symptoms and even though my pain and toliet issues are embarrassing they got me diagnosed even though still stage 3 I’m hoping that with surgery and possible other treatments over the coming months after histology reports show best next step I will be ok I’m remaining positive but have to admit the financial strain has hit us with the cost of living and my partners time off and all the added trips costs are just becoming crazy and I’m stressing over everything worrying have I covered all bills I’m not one to ask or beg but with my op on Tuesday and the tightness of everything the next couple months are daunting to say the least

Wish me luck I plan to fight it and hope I win as I have my beautiful family and my youngest aswell as grandchildren I want to continue to see grow I think we all have that wish .

i appreciate we all incur hardships and I appreciate people are in a similar situation so am not expecting anything I have just seen others reach out for help in there time of need and felt maybe after the last few months struggling more and more that I would reach out myself I may get backlash for doing so as I no not everyone agrees but at this time I have no idea except for the operation what else Is to come for me and my family and I am just trying to take of some of the strain my partner is working all the shifts he can in and around my treatment and appointments he has to take holiday each time he’s been a huge support but so has all my family and friends anyway I will leave it there thank you for reading