For more than 3 years mum had put her cancer symptoms down to the menopause
JENNIFER IS URGING PEOPLE TO GO TO THEIR GP
A DERBYSHIRE mum with incurable bowel cancer who lived unknowingly with the disease for years is urging anyone with symptoms to go to their GP.
For more than three years Jennifer Chambers put her symptoms down to the menopause and later down to juggling home schooling with working from home.
But in November last year, the 47-year-old, from Hilton, was diagnosed with stage four metastatic bowel cancer which had spread to her liver. She is receiving chemotherapy and remains positive of the future, despite her cancer currently being considered inoperable and incurable.
The mum-of three, who works in the tech industry, said: “It was a late diagnosis. The biggest symptom I had was fatigue, so because I was in my mid-40s doctors assumed it was the start of the menopause.
“It was only when my symptoms
It was only when my symptoms got worse... that I sought a second opinion.
got worse and I started to get pains in my stomach and a change in bowel habits that I sought a second opinion and that’s when they discovered a 4cm tumour in my bowel.
“I want to urge people to please go to the doctors if you have any kind of cancer symptoms. And don’t be afraid to challenge if your first diagnosis doesn’t throw anything up, but you feel something is wrong. This is my biggest regret.
“I knew my body and I knew I was ill. If they hadn’t thrown the menopause into the mix I would have challenged that harder. Cancer doesn’t stop for the menopause it makes it harder to detect.”
Now, as part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Jennifer is working with Macmillan to raise funds and awareness around the importance of an early diagnosis.
Her personal fitness challenge “Fit to beat cancer” has seen her running, walking or cycling five kilometres every week while undergoing treatment.
She has already raised more than £7,000 for Macmillan and is shining a spotlight on the importance of early diagnosis. Jennifer decided to turn her experience into something positive after receiving support from the Macmillan online community.
She said: “The Macmillan online community felt like a safe place. It stopped me from googling and finding inaccurate information or out of date stats. I was able to speak to other people with cancer who were further down the line than me and get advice on how to break the news to my children.
“My youngest is just nine so we wanted to tell her without terrifying her. In normal circumstances you would go into a cancer centre and speak to someone, but that’s been really difficult with Covid-19, so the online community has been a lifesaver.
“I started my chemotherapy in January and since my diagnosis, it’s been really hard for the whole family. I was told back in November that it was incurable, but I’m incredibly grateful that I’m still able to have it treated. Keeping active has helped me physically prepare for my treatment, but also mentally prepare. I’ve been able to meet my target each week even when I’ve not been feeling my best during treatment weeks.”
Jennifer has already met her target and clocked up 130 kilometres
Jennifer Chambers
in her “Fit to beat cancer” challenge. Her oldest daughter is also running the virtual London Marathon for Macmillan.
Pauline Love, Macmillan GP adviser in Derbyshire, said: “We know that many people have been worried about seeking medical advice and care during the Covid19 crisis. Anybody who is experiencing cancer symptoms must contact their GP without delay.
“The last thing we want is for more people to have their cancer diagnosed later, or for their treatment to be disrupted because of fears about the coronavirus.
“If you have questions about visiting your local hospital or GP surgery, and the measures put in place to keep you safe, please don’t hesitate to contact your medical team or doctor for reassurance. We will do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer during Covid.”
You can donate to Jennifer’s fundraiser at ww.justgiving.com/fundraising/smashingcancerwithjen