A woman who was told to start planning her funeral after being diagnosed with terminal cancer will be taking on the Race for Life 10k in Royal Victoria Park next month after beating the disease.
Carol with Sam and Sharon | Photo courtesy of Cancer Research UK
Carol Kernagham, who thought she was going through the menopause, had irregular periods and stomach cramps and thought nothing more of it.
But during lockdown in November 2020, 61-year-old Carol had a huge haemorrhage whilst she was living in her houseboat in Saltford.
The mum of three explained: “It happened twice, the second time I was at my daughter’s house, who is a nurse and thankfully and she was able to take charge.
“I’ve always been fit and so this came as a big shock.”
Carol, who is now living in Frome, is sharing her story as her best friend Sharon Osmond will be joining her at Race for Life 10k in Bath on Sunday 3rd July.
Standing proudly with a sign showing their personal motivations for supporting the charity’s events, her son Sam and Sharon are hoping to encourage women and men of all ages and abilities to sign up to their local event at raceforlife.org.
Carol was aged 59 at the time and went through her treatment alone as lockdown meant she couldn’t have her family in hospital with her.
Following a blood transfusion and an ultrasound, doctors believed the problem was caused by fibroids. But a biopsy revealed something different.
She was called in to see her doctor who broke the devastating news that she had cancer.
Carol said: “I was told it was in different organs, including my womb, bowel, bladder, pelvic wall and cervix. By this stage I was in terrible pain and I couldn’t eat or drink.
“I couldn’t do anything for myself and I was in a wheelchair and in such a poor way.
“Within weeks I was on so many pain killers and I couldn’t speak.
“I was told it was inoperable and it was palliative. My daughter wanted to care for me until I passed, and I really thought I was on my way out. Dorothy House had prepared a palliative care plan. I was In a very poor state and they didn’t think I would survive chemo.”
“My weight had plummeted from nine and a half stone to six stone.
“The cancer caused a fistula in my bowel resulting in sepsis which nearly killed me. I was given an emergency colostomy.
“During this procedure the medics discovered I had hydronephrosis in both kidneys, but they couldn’t put shunts in to drain them due to the tumour ingress.
“The prognosis was poor. The biopsy showed that I was missing a particular gene and genetic testing showed I had Lynch Syndrome meaning I have a higher chance of getting cancer, mainly colorectal and endometrial.”
Carol, who is a grandmother to nine added: “My family are now being tested to see if they to carry this genetic flaw. I started on a course of immunotherapy as my consultant thought this might reduce the tumour. It worked!
“The tumour reduced over time which meant that surgery was now possible.
“After seven cycles of immunotherapy at Bath’s RUH, a scan showed the tumour had shrunk. I felt so much better, even after three cycles, and I was on no more pain killers and I was out of the wheelchair.
“I also needed a hysterectomy and after surgery I was given radiotherapy for 5 weeks and the surgeon then told me the tumour had gone. I am now cancer free.
“Thanks to the research which allowed me to have this relatively new treatment I am alive today and so I race for life to say thank you and hope that one day everybody will be able to say they beat cancer.”
Every year around 37,300 people are diagnosed with cancer in the South West and one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer in their lifetime.
Money raised at Race for Life enables scientists to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, helping to save more lives.
The mum of three, said: “I’m proud to Race for Life. It means I can pay something back for the treatment I’ve had.
“Cancer was a tough thing to go through and there were many frightening moments. But early on I realised there were some special people in my life who were there for me especially My best friend Sharon.
“It will be a special moment when we stand at the start line together. We all have a reason to Race for Life. For me it will be a celebration of our friendship as well as a chance to raise money to help others facing cancer right now.”
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is a series of 3k, 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.
The Race for Life events at Royal Victoria Park will take place on Sunday 3rd July and are open to people of all ages and abilities.
Women, men and children can choose from 5k and 10k events. There is also a chance to take part in Pretty Muddy, a mud-splattered obstacle course in Bristol on 26th June and there’s a Pretty Muddy Kids option too.
Anyone who enters Race for Life up until 12th June can claim 50 per cent off the entry fee as part of the sale by using the code SUMR50.
Ali Birkett, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in the South West, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Carol for her support.
“Sadly, cancer affects all of us in some way. Whether people are living with cancer, taking part in honour of or in memory of a loved one with cancer, or signing up to protect their own children’s future, everyone has a reason to Race for Life. So we’re asking people across the region: “Who will you Race for?”
“Our Race for Life events are open to all. For some people, the Race for Life is literally a walk in the park. Slow and steady still wins. For others, it’s a jog.
“Others may opt to push themselves harder, taking up the challenge of the 10K distance and even pushing for a new personal best time.
“But what is for certain is we’re looking forward to welcoming people of all ages and abilities. Race for Life in Bath will be fun, emotional, colourful, uplifting and an unforgettable event this year.”
To enter the Race for Life events, visit raceforlife.org.
