Tara at the summit of Fan Brycheiniog in Wales. Tara is smiling and giving a thumbs-up gestureFebruary 2025

 

I had a rare endo-cervical adenocarcinoma in Winter 2008-09 and had been misdiagnosed for over 9 months because I was “too young and fit” for cancer☹️

As soon as I was diagnosed in late November 2008, I started treatment straight away. I was meant to have surgery, but the tumour was too big so my treatment consisted of platinum-based Chemo and radiotherapy.

I had acute bowel symptoms (diarrhoea, urgency, frequency, and crampy pain) during treatment, but that went away when I was finished radiotherapy. However, about 8 years later, I started to have the same problems again and they have just gotten progressively worse.

I lead a very active lifestyle; I work as a Wildlife Biologist, as a Film Extra, and I compete in Equestrian sport; Dressage and Showjumping, as well as active in Mountain hiking and caving. The PRD symptoms have really scuppered so many of my plans, interfered with work, and ruined my self-esteem. I used to be strong and confident, now I just worry about getting to a Loo all the time! I have found ways to ‘go’ in the Field when I’m working or hiking, make sure I don’t eat before I go anywhere, and live on Loperamide. I have even seen a Gastroenterologist and she fobbed me off saying my symptoms were ‘just IBS!’

It’s critical that healthcare professionals learn about PRD and don’t just assume that because you’ve survived cancer, everything is fine. They also need to listen to patients who have researched PRD and met others with the same symptoms. I am so grateful to PRDA for making me feel less alone in my struggles with this debilitating condition!

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