We are The Christie magazine -Edition 5

Patient stories

Bex Hind

39-year-old Bex Hind from Cumbria was diagnosed with incurable pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare appendix cancer, around five years ago. “I actually had a procedure to sort an obstruction in my small bowel just two weeks before the race, so to be standing there on the starting line was very emotional. “I did around 1,000 miles of training ahead of the ride, and I now feel the best I have since my diagnosis – both physically and mentally. I’m still on a bit of a high from it, but I’ll soon be planning what I’m going to do next. Getting out on my bike gives me something to focus on; it helps to clear my mind. “Obviously, not everyone with advanced cancer will be able, or even want to, do a challenge like this, but there’s definitely a misconception that a stage four diagnosis means there’s no hope, when that’s just not true. Thanks to advances in treatment, more and more people are living well with cancer than ever before, and the clue is right there in that phrase – there is so much living to be done.”

As part of her treatment at The Christie, Bex had a big operation to remove lots of different organs and tissues, including her large bowel, spleen,

gallbladder, ovaries, womb and fallopian tubes. The surgeon then put heated chemotherapy into her abdomen to try to get rid of any remaining cancer cells. However, the cancer came back, and Bex has since had to have more tumours – one the size of a melon – removed. “Living with advanced cancer can be brutal; there are no two ways about

“Thanks to advances in treatment, more and more people are living well with cancer than ever before, and the clue is right there in that phrase – there is so much living to be done."

it. I have to take a lot of medication, and some days are a struggle, but I’m not going to let it stop me.” Bex recently took part in a 56-mile cycle ride for people with stage four cancer and those close to them, raising around £9,000 for charity.

Credit: Luiza Oliver Photography

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