Despite saying almost 5 years ago that I'd never run a half marathon again, here I am training for the Cardiff Half Marathon. 3 years ago my mum started her battle against Oesophogeal Cancer and I want to raise awareness of and funds for OPA (Oesopgogeal Patients Association). If my mum can find both the mental and physical strength to fight for her life, I am determined to complete the 13.1 miles. 

Mum had difficulty swallowing and saw her GP Nov 12. An endoscopy Feb 13 told us she had oesophageal cancer. Anxious wait for further tests and staging led to two cycles of pre-operative chemo as 6 day infusion. Lots of scary and upsetting times and horrific side effects during chemo but we got through it. Then came the surgery at University Hospital of Wales in June 13 by two teams who completed the operation in a record time of 2.5 hours followed by 11 days in hospital recovering before coming home. They say the surgery alone is like running a marathon with no training!
Subsequently surgical histology revealed that a number of the removed lymph nodes were affected so Mum then had to endure three sessions of post-op chemo. The side effects were worse than before but at least the end of treatment was in sight and the cancer was left in a bucket in the operating theatre.

Diagnosis of OC is often made quite late because the symptoms can be vague, making overall prognosis for this disease relatively poor. Mum reaches three years on 3rd June but the impact of the treatment remains. With two thirds of the oesophagus and one third of the stomach removed, and the remaining stomach used to make a new oesophagus, eating is a challenge. The nerve that tells you when you are hungry and when you are full is gone, so is the one way valve that stops food coming up. Lots of foods disagree with you, and if you eat slightly too much things get bad - pain, nausea, dizziness, sweating, sickness. Mum still only eats a small child’s portion. All of this means eating out or in company is very stressful.
The fatigue from chemo remains, which may be compounded by diet and absence of stomach to absorb food.

There isn’t always enough support when you are going through cancer, but eventually Mum found Macmillan’s on-line forum which led her to OPA (Oesophageal Patients Association) and a big network of friends/fellow sufferers and their families. OPA offers advice leaflets, peer support, a network of groups/meetings and a phone line. The wealth of advice available is invaluable in supporting people enduring the disease and treatment process and means they don’t have to feel like they’re doing it alone.

Mum has always been a truly inspirational figure to us all, raising Vikkie, Dan and myself almost singlehandedly whilst striving to forge a career in accountancy to provide us with fantastic childhood memories and set us up to succeed in our own adult lives and careers. Her battle with this disgusting disease has only reaffirmed just how inspirational she really is.... Mum, Grandma to three beautiful grandchildren and chief executive to First Choice Housing. Mum, you're amazing xx 

OPA is a small charity with a big heart 💕

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