Brave borough mum in cancer battle

Mum-of two Gemma , 38, was given a diagnosis of lower rectal cancer in November and is currently having chemotherapy at The Christie cancer unit at Wigan.

She found her initial symptoms getting worse throughout lockdown but it was initially thought she might have Crohn’s or another bowel condition.

However, a nurse practitioner at her GP surgery in Golborne was concerned about her symptoms and kept pushing for medical staff to do more.

Gemma has been speaking about her cancer battle on social media and her courage in opening up and sharing her experiences has been praised.

She is also launching a petition to get the age criteria for bowel screening changed and wants to alter the perception that it is a disease which mainly affects older people.

Gemma said: “At first I was told I didn’t meet the age criteria but I got put through as an urgent referral as the symptoms were getting worse and worse. I was admitted to hospital for pain management and was in for three days.

“I was discharged on the Friday as it was safer for me to be at home with Covid and on the Monday I got a call to go back. On Tuesday they told me it was cancer.

“In a way I had an idea because it was so quick. That morning I had a phone call from the X-ray department to book me in for a chest scan. I had no symptoms there so I knew they were looking for spreading.

“It was tough. At first I was in shock. The hospital was really good and supportive. They’d already had a multi-disciplinary team meeting to discuss what was going to happen.

“I’m so thankful the nurse practitioner kept pushing for everything to get done. He wasn’t happy it was being left.

“I was told it was very rare for someone my age but then I joined a bowel cancer group on Facebook and lots of other people my age were there and had been told the same thing.

“More needs to be done to look at the age criteria. It shouldn’t be classed as an older person’s disease.

“It’s very curable if it’s caught early enough but if people are being told they’re not old enough it could be missed or classed as some other bowel condition.”

At first Gemma told only close friends and family about her diagnosis but when a neighbour made her a T-shirt to wear on her first day of radiotherapy at The Christie she decided it was time to put the news on Facebook.

Her posts describing her battle with cancer have struck a chord with many people who have been impressed by her bravery and openness.

Gemma said: “It has been incredible. I can’t thank people enough. When you are waiting to go into radiotherapy or having a chemo infusion reading all these messages saying you are doing amazing gives you such a boost. The positivity really helps you get through it.”

One of Gemma’s most recent posts came when she decided to shave off her hair as the treatment was causing it to thin.

She said: “I wanted to take control of something and thought that if and when it goes my hair was something I could control.

“We said we would make it fun so we cut it into crazy hairstyles like Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber and posted pictures of me side-by-side with them.

“It was great, all we did was laugh. My best friend and brother were on FaceTime, we were all giggling and it made it that little bit easier.”

Gemma praised her husband Andy, 36, and their children Jack and Mia, 14 and 12, for their support throughout her cancer battle.

Gemma’s dad Alan Penk, 72, also lives with them and has said he is proud of her.

She said: “The kids have been so strong, handling everything so well and getting stuck into home schooling, and my husband has been an absolute rock.

“He’s had a double hernia in his groin and is waiting to have that done but in a way that’s been a blessing because he’s been able to come to all my appointments.”

Gemma is also supporting a campaign by Bowel Cancer UK for wider access to checks for the disease called Never Too Young.

Find out more at www.facebook.com/gemma.penk

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