Improving bowel cancer care - Rachel Thake
Rachel Thake thought she had just picked up an extreme tummy bug but her dad - a former GP - advised her to seek medical attention. The 52-year-old from Reading said: "I was convinced I had just picked up a bug, I must have visited the toilet 20 to 30 times a day and three days later it still hadn't gone.
"My dad must have suspected something and that's really quite extraordinary, as I don't think my GP thought it was anything bad when he referred me.
"I was referred to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, where I underwent a colonoscopy.
"This revealed a huge red lump. I had cancer and I couldn't have been more shocked. I was always so fit and healthy. I was referred to a private oncologist through my Bupa membership.
"I was fitted with an ileostomy bag (known by my children as the "poo-bag") The idea of the ileostomy was really unpleasant before the operation, but I found I adapted really quickly to the process. My treatment plan started with eight two-week cycles of chemotherapy, followed by an operation to remove the tumour.
"I followed this up with six more two-week cycles of chemotherapy, and then the reversal of the ileostomy, which was by far the most painful part of my treatment."
"I was told you are either loopy or kinky and lucky for me I was kinky! You see it's very hard to put everything back in its place. A kink will sort itself out but if it's a loop then you may have to have more surgery.
"Words cannot express how wonderful the staff were at the hospital, although they did at one point confiscate the daily papers because they used to joke that all the stupid headlines would raise my blood pressure!
"I really got to know the people who were looking after me because I saw the same people every time."
Rachel remained positive through her treatment and was extremely grateful for the support of her family.
She said: "I had a lot to live for - my teenage daughters and a loving husband. My consultant said she was surprised that I had pulled through, and I'm so pleased I beat the odds.
"A positive mental attitude, a loving family and a great hospital team helped me through this and I'm so grateful to them all."