'I had 13 organs removed after I got food poisoning on a work night out'
It was Christmas 2018 when Rebecca Hind was struck down with a bout of nasty food poisoning at her work meal. She wasn't the only one to get it but while her colleagues recovered, two months on Rebecca was still suffering with sickness.
She went to her doctor, who prescribed courses of antibiotics but she still didn't recover. Rebecca, from Eden Valley, Cumbria recalled: "After our Christmas 2018 work meal, a few of us were unwell - but whilst others recovered quickly, I remained ill eight weeks later. The GP had given me several rounds of antibiotics but nothing worked."
She was referred to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle for a CT scan which showed she had masses in her abdomen. Biopsies followed which revealed the worst possible news - Rebecca, who was then 35, had cancer.
The disease had fused to the surface of several of her abdominal organs and formed tumours which were preventing them from working properly. The type of cancer Rebecca was found to have was Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) - the same cancer that killed movie star Audrey Hepburn. It's incredibly rare - just one to four in a million people per year are diagnosed with it.
Rebecca was told it had spread to her organs via a jelly-like cancerous liquid called mucin and that it was advanced. "By the time they found it, I was pretty much riddled with it," she revealed.
The former outdoor education instructor had noticed she was gaining weight unusually around her middle during that year but being a fan of keeping fit, she just exercised more to try and shift it. It turned out that her bigger tummy was the 'jelly-belly' that is characteristic of PMP and the mucin associated with it.
Rebecca underwent surgery in April 2019 at the Christie Hospital in Manchester. Surgeons removed her appendix, navel, lesser omentum - a layer of tissue attached to the stomach and liver - and six litres of mucin.
Tests showed that the cancer was a very aggressive form so she was given eight rounds of chemotherapy, but sadly the cancer didn't shrink enough.
In November 2019 she underwent another lengthy operation in an attempt to remove all the diseased tissue. During the 12-hour surgery Rebecca had her greater omentum, gall bladder, spleen, large bowel, womb, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and rectum removed.
She also had some of her stomach and small bowel taken away, as well as the surface layer of her liver and both sides of her diaphragm. Chemo was also given during the procedure.
"I went through a surgical menopause aged 35 - it was an assault on the body," she recalled. "Part of the surgery I had a heated liquid form of chemotherapy - known as HIPEC - to target any remaining cancer cells and they formed an ileostomy [an opening in the belly]. I was in hospital recovering on and off for months after."
Despite the best efforts of surgeons and specialists and the huge amount of organs and tissue that was removed, Rebecca was told the cancer was still present. She participated in a trial which targeted the genetic mutation associated with the disease in 2022, but the treatment made her too unwell. Tragically she was then told the cancer was incurable.
"They surgically removed some diseased organs, and administered eight rounds of chemotherapy, but some disease remained. Then I had a second surgery so I was dealing with the life-changing effects of the surgery, and then I learned the cancer had returned and was incurable. It was heartbreaking," she said.
She now takes 50 to 60 tablets a day including codeine and hormone replacement therapy. Her diet is restricted to an electrolyte fluid solution and food supplements.
Despite the tragic prognosis, Rebecca, who turns 40 this year, remains positive and determined to live her life to the full - even though she doesn't know how long she has left. "I've just got to try to get on with life, and deal with whatever comes my way," she said.
She's certainly keeping to her word too. So far she's had a go at surfing, enjoyed a hot air balloon ride and tried her hand at dog sledding. She is also raising money for a charity close to her heart.
Her latest challenge is Chris Hoy's 'Tour de 4' 90km cycle. She's hoping to raise money for PMP charity Pseudomyxoma Survivor, which Audrey Hepburn's son is patron of.
Rebecca believes a positive mindset is crucial to making the most of any situation and hopes to inspire others with her story. "The message I want to get across is when you have a stoma or an incurable diagnosis, things will be incredibly difficult," she said. "My daily life is a rollercoaster - but with the right attitude, you can still achieve a lot. And more importantly, enjoy whatever time you have." If you'd like to contribute to Rebecca's gofundme fundraiser you can do so here.
What is PMP?
Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a very rare type of cancer, It usually starts in the appendix as a polyp but can also start in the bowel, bladder or ovaries.
The polyp then spreads cancerous cells from the point of origin to the abdominal cavity lining - the peritoneum. The cells produce mucus called mucin which collects in the tummy. It's a jelly-like substance, hence PMP sometimes being called 'jelly belly'.
The disease develops very slowly and it can take years for symptoms to show. It will usually have spread beyond the appendix once it is diagnosed. It can press on the bowel and other organs. Without treatment it can take over the peritoneal cavity.
It's not known what causes the illness. It's more common in women and can be mistaken for ovarian cancer, which can also produce mucin and swelling in the tummy.
Symptoms of PMP can include:
abdominal or pelvic pain
not being able to become pregnant
abdominal swelling and bloating
changes in bowel habits
hernia (a bulge in the tummy wall or groin)
loss of appetite
feeling of fullness
Diagnosis can be tricky and it's often discovered accidentally while treating another condition. A doctor will arrange for certain tests to be carried out before treatment, including an ultrasound, CT scan and MRI. Surgery and chemotherapy are the main treatments for PMP.
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