Hello!
I’m Claire, a 43 year old mum of three who just happened to be diagnosed with bowel cancer in November 2019, at the age of 39. I’m also a GP. It is fair to say I do NOT like being this side of the fence! Doctors make rubbish patients.
My diagnosis finally came after the best part of a year of investigations for iron deficiency anaemia having been initially referred on a 2 week wait pathway in December 2018. I was finally diagnosed on CT scan after presenting to A and E with pain and a right sided mass and the rest as they say is history. Extended right hemicolectomy on the 10th December 2019. High risk stage 2 disease. Started 6 months of oral chemotherapy in January 2020.
I’ve never done anything like this before. Part of me wonders if writing a blog is a little self-indulgent, however I’m going to give it a go. I’ve already learnt a LOT since the November “excitement” – about me, about bowel cancer, about being a doctor, about being a patient, and being a doctor-patient.
Maybe, just maybe, sharing some of this might help me navigate my way through this mess and help some others along the way.