When Sarah Johnstone lost her beloved sister Karen to a rare and aggressive form of appendix cancer, she never imagined she'd be fighting the same devastating battle just years later. Now, she's sharing her powerful story to help others recognise the warning signs that could save lives.
A Devastating Family Legacy
The 54-year-old teaching assistant from Surrey watched helplessly as her sister Karen battled pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a rare cancer that begins in the appendix and spreads throughout the abdomen. "Seeing what Karen went through was heartbreaking," Sarah recalls. "When she passed away, we never thought lightning would strike twice in the same family."
The Shocking Diagnosis
Years after Karen's death, Sarah began experiencing subtle symptoms she initially dismissed as digestive issues. "I had bloating, discomfort, and changes in my bowel habits," she explains. "I put it down to stress or dietary changes, but something kept nagging at me - the memory of what happened to Karen."
That instinct likely saved her life. After pushing for thorough investigations, Sarah received the devastating news: she too had PMP, the same rare cancer that claimed her sister.
Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
- Persistent abdominal bloating that doesn't improve
- Unexplained changes in bowel habits
- Abdominal pain or discomfort that lingers
- Feeling full quickly when eating
- Unexplained weight changes
The Gruelling Road to Recovery
Sarah underwent extensive surgery at Basingstoke Hospital, one of the UK's leading centres for treating this rare condition. The procedure, known as cytoreductive surgery, involved removing all visible tumour tissue followed by heated chemotherapy delivered directly into the abdomen.
"The treatment was brutal," Sarah admits. "But I kept thinking of Karen and knew I had to fight not just for myself, but in her memory too."
A Message of Hope and Awareness
Now cancer-free, Sarah is determined to raise awareness about this little-known disease. "If my story helps even one person get diagnosed earlier, then everything I've been through will be worth it," she says emotionally.
She urges anyone experiencing persistent abdominal symptoms to seek medical advice and persist if they feel something isn't right. "Don't be fobbed off. You know your own body better than anyone."
Through her grief and her own health battle, Sarah has found purpose in helping others, proving that even in our darkest moments, we can become beacons of hope for those who follow.
