Alison Crooks - Colorectal Cancer

FUNDRAISING FOR A CURE

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“In March 2020, my friend Sharon was rushed to hospital after experiencing severe pain. She underwent emergency surgery and was then diagnosed with bowel cancer. She had two years of treatment, but sadly passed away in September 2022.

I needed a focus after losing my friend of 30 years and decided to contact Bowel Cancer UK for an entry place into the 2023 London Marathon, which I was then lucky enough to secure. I’d first run the marathon in 2006, and at the time, said never again, but I needed to turn Sharon’s death into something positive.

The training went really well. I had some tummy troubles, mainly just going to the toilet more frequently, but put it down to ‘runner’s tummy’. I mentioned it in passing to my GP, and she gave me an at home test that checked for blood in my poo.

I then ran the London Marathon and raised over £6,700 for Bowel Cancer UK. I was elated; it was such a high. Two days after the marathon, my GP called to say my sample had tested positive for hidden blood, and I was referred for a colonoscopy. The doctor informed me and my partner that there was something causing a narrowing of the bowel and whilst he didn’t say it was cancer, he was honest and said that it looked bad. Following a biopsy and CT scan, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer on 8th of June 2023.

I was in shock. I was only 47 and have always considered myself to be fit and healthy. I went through a stage of asking, “Why me?”, but then quickly realised this was too negative. If one in two people get cancer, then the chances are high. I realised instead I should be wondering, “Why not me?”.

I had a sigmoid resection to remove the cancer and didn’t require a stoma. Following further biopsies, cancer cells were found in only one lymph node of the 17 that were removed.

My oncology team were wonderful. The routine treatment for this cancer is CAPOX, however, my blood tests confirmed I was unable to have this combination. This was a wake-up call to the advances made in treatment, as I was informed that five years ago, the blood test I’d had wasn’t routine and had to be paid for. Without this blood test, I would’ve continued with CAPOX and my oncologist said it could’ve been fatal for me. Instead, I was put on a combination of raltitrexed and oxaliplatin.

I found chemotherapy more terrifying than surgery and I had four rounds of infusion. Each time, the symptoms were worse. There were some early onset typical symptoms like pins and needles, loss of taste and appetite, but during the second week, I suffered from depression. It took me to a very dark place, to the point I was planning my funeral.

Later, I was given the all clear on the 5th of December. I couldn’t have asked for better support from my medical team and GP. I feel blessed that I had swift action throughout. My friend Sharon was not as fortunate, and perhaps that saved me, as I was more aware of what to look out for.

I have signed up for research projects to help in any way I can. I didn’t fit any of the risk profiles for bowel cancer and feel that it is so important to change the narrative to ensure early diagnosis and to avoid any stigma about talking about poo.

I am back to running, travelling and immersing myself in nature, which has huge mental health benefits.”

READ ABOUT HOW FUNDS ARE USED

PLANETS Funds New Wellbeing Room for Liver Ward at UHS

PLANETS funds new wellbeing room for liver patients at University Hospital Southampton A new wellbeing room funded by PLANETS Cancer Charity has been opened for patients with liver diseases at University Hospital Southampton. The facility, located on the gastroenterology and hepatology ward, provides a quiet space for patients and a place for private conversations which […]
PLANETS funds novel 3D printed livers to aid complex surgery

Surgeons in Southampton are the first in the UK to begin using 3D printed models of patients’ livers to help them perform a complex cancer operation. Converting the data available from CT and MRI scans of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma – a type of bile duct cancer – into 3D models will enable better planning […]
PLANETS Charity Welcome Coach Alison Bailey to their Support Team

Here at PLANETS we understand how daunting a cancer diagnosis can be. We know firsthand the transformative power of support throughout the cancer journey and have experienced ourselves the highs and lows, the triumphs and setbacks and the profound impact they can have on your life. We are very happy to be welcoming Alison Bailey, […]
PLANETS completes £1 million fundraising campaign to purchase pioneering radiotherapy machine

PLANETS has thanked its supporters after completing a £1 million fundraising campaign and making the final payment for a pioneering radiotherapy machine. PLANETS Cancer Charity has been fundraising for the past six years to fully purchase Mobetron, a revolutionary mobile device which delivers radiotherapy during surgery – known as intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT). When the charity […]
PLANETS Receive £10,000 Grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund

Thank you to John Greenwood, Trustee of the The Hospital Saturday Fund, for visiting us on Monday and bringing this incredible grant of £10,000 to support our IORT (Intra Operative Radiotherapy) machine. This will enable us to continue delivering this lifesaving treatment at University Hospital Southampton – the only centre in the UK currently offering […]
As seen on BBC South Today: £250k Appeal Launched in Southampton to Keep World Beating Cancer Machine in Southampton
PLANETS Fund ‘New View’ Psychotherapy Course for NET Patients

PLANETS have funded a psychotherapy programme, after a successful pilot course, to help NET patients see their diagnosis in a ‘new view’. We all know that different people deal with their neuroendocrine cancer diagnosis very differently. Initially there are lots of scary tests and Doctor appointments. Then there are lots of talk about […]
Head and Neck Cancer Patient Treated with IORT in UK First

A woman from Salisbury has become the first patient in the UK with head and neck cancer to receive radiotherapy in the operating theatre during surgery to remove a recurrent tumour. Jayne Garrett, 53, underwent major surgery at University Hospital Southampton on 25 April after suffering a recurrence of her cancer following conventional treatment […]
PLANETS Host the 1st National IORT Symposium

It was an honour to present the fantastic work and great initial results to medics from all over the country at our 1st National IORT (intra-operative radiotherapy) Symposium on Friday June 21st at University Hospital Southampton. After a lot of hard work and fundraising in order to bring IORT to the UK for the […]
PLANETS Cancer Charity and the Robert White Trust, Fund a new regional NET Cancer Dietitian

A dietitian funded by PLANETS Cancer Charity and the Robert White Trust Fund is due to start work to develop and provide a comprehensive dietetic service to patients diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Cancer (NETs). Ruth Lee will be based at the Dorset NET service, which is part of the Wessex European Neuroendocrine tumour society centre […]
Southampton Secure £200k from The Robert White Trust for NETs Research

PLANETS are excited to share the news that University Hospital Southampton have secured £200,000 funding from the Robert White Trust for a research project that aims to gain a better understanding of NET biology which may lead to a greater range of treatment options for patients with this rare disease. Robert White was a former […]
Bowel cancer patient becomes first in UK to be treated with IORT

We are thrilled and proud to update our supporters that a Southampton bowel cancer patient has become the first in the UK to receive radiotherapy during surgery using the IORT machine that PLANETS has funded. he 58-year-old male, who completed a combination of conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy in August, underwent major surgery at Southampton […]
IORT Launch is a Success!

SOUTHAMPTON CLINICIANS PIONEER USE OF REVOLUTIONARY CANCER DEVICE PLANETS founders Neil Pearce and Brian Stedman, together with fund manager Layla Stephen successfully launched our long awaited IORT machine last night. The Mobetron is the first portable system able to administer the treatment in this way – known as intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) – and will […]
IORT Arrives at Southampton!

PLANETS are thrilled to announce that the eagle (finally) has landed! 2 tons of intra-operative radio-therapy machine (IORT) arrived from the USA this week – currently undergoing acceptance testing. This is the UK’s first ever mobile electron beam radiotherapy machine for treating cancers during surgery. Thanks to everyone who has supported our fundraising which has […]
Southampton Aiding Research into Earlier Diagnosis for Pancreatic Cancer

You may have notice that Southampton was mentioned in recent media stories regarding The National Tumour Bank that is carrying out important pancreatic cancer research? Colin Johnson, Professor of Surgical Sciences at University of Southampton, has this to say about the project: ‘The National Tissue Bank is a major development in pancreatic cancer research. Several […]
Sainsbury’s Hedge End Donate Digital Radios

A big thank you to Sainsbury’s Hedge End for donating two digital radios to PLANETS to be used in the lead lined Gamma Scanner Rooms at Southampton General. Pictured presenting the radios to staff in the scanner rooms are PLANETS Fund Manager, Layla Stephen, and Dr Brian Stedman.
PLANETS to Fund Pancreatic Cancer Research at Southampton

PLANETS Charitable Fund are excited to have committed to provide a grant over a two year period for a pancreatic research project: ́The role of Eps8 in αvβ6-dependent functions in pancreatic cancer invasion’ to be undertaken by Dr Jo Tod. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) has one of the worst outcomes of any cancer; only 3.7% of patients […]
First Patient Receives PRRT at Southampton thanks to PLANETS

[social_button button=”facebook” flayout=”standard ” fwidth=”450″ faction=”like” fcolorsheme=”light”] UHS magazine Connect featured a fantastic article about NET patient Maureen McKenzie who, in July 2013, became the first Southampton patient to receive PRRT (peptide receptor radionuclide therapy). The equipment for this treatment was jointly funded by UHS and PLANETS showing just how important and valuable the […]
Improving Patient Services Across the Region

[social_button button=”facebook” flayout=”standard ” fwidth=”450″ faction=”like” fcolorsheme=”light”] Pancreatic cancer affects over 8000 patients each year in the uk and remains the fifth biggest cancer killer in the UK, despite this its has been underfunded for many years and currently receives just 1% of total cancer research funding in the UK. NETs are a rare form […]

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