Healthy 33-year-old hit with common ‘post Christmas’ problem – it was the first sign of terminal cancer that cost her 13 organs

A 39 year-old woman is striving to enjoy the time she has left, after being dealt a shock diagnosis of appendix cancer that has left her body ‘riddled’ with tumours.

Rebecca Hind, from Cumbria, was given the devastating news in 2019, aged 33, shortly after suffering just the symptoms of what she thought were food poisoning.

What followed was years of painstaking surgeries to remove 13 of her organs, more than eight gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and medically-induced menopause at the age of 35. 

Heartbreakingly, the latest round of treatment failed to keep the cancer at bay and doctors have told her the disease is terminal—they don’t know how long she has left to live. 

Despite this, she’s trying to have as ‘normal’ a life as possible.

The fitness instructor said: ‘I turn 40 this year and I want to say yes to everything. I’ve been surfing, in a hot air balloon and dog sledding so far.

‘My latest challenge is Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 90km cycle to raise money for charity.’

The ordeal began in December 2018, after a Christmas work meal that appeared to result in a bout of food poisoning.

 ‘A few of us were unwell—but whilst others recovered quickly, I remained ill eight weeks later,’ she said.

Initially her GP prescribed several rounds of antibiotics, but when they didn’t work she was referred to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

Scans performed by doctors there found cancerous masses in her abdomen which it was later revealed had spread widely to her other organs through a jelly-like cancerous liquid called mucin.

She was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a two-in-a-million rare form of appendix cancer, which took the life of Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn.

The most common symptoms of PMP include abdominal pain, swelling, and changes in bowel habits, as well as loss of appetite and unexplained weight gain.‘

In Ms Hind’s case the cancer was found to be advanced—it had fused to the surface of several abdominal organs, forming solid tumours.

She said: ‘By the time they found it, I was pretty much riddled with it.’ 

She had two surgeries to remove thirteen organs and body parts that had become cancerous, followed by eight rounds of chemotherapy. 

 In April 2019, she had the first operation to remove her appendix, navel and part of the abdominal cavity.

It was revealed the cancer was high-grade and a more aggressive form of PMP which present on several organs. 

In November 2019, she travelled to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital for specialists to perform a procedure to try and remove all the abnormal tissue.

The extreme and lengthy procedure, which is dubbed ‘the mother of all surgeries’, lasted 12 hours. 

The surgeons removed her gallbladder, spleen, large bowel, womb, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, rectum and abdominal tissue known as the omentum. 

A portion of her stomach and small bowel, as well as the surface layer of her liver and both sides of her diaphragm were also removed.

The extraction of her reproductive organs kicked her into the early menopause, aged just 35. 

‘It was an assault on the body,’ she said.

 ‘I was in hospital recovering on and off for months after.’

Ms Hind must take a cocktail of 50 to 60 tablets including codeine, Imodium and hormone replacement therapy.

Her diet is also restricted, and she is forced to take an electrolyte fluid solution with food supplements. 

Devastatingly, in the summer of 2020, she was told the surgery had failed to eradicate the cancer.

While she participated a clinical trial for a new medicine in 2022, she had to stop taking the drug when it made her too unwell. 

In September she will be taking part in Chris Hoy’s ‘Tour de 4’, a bike event aiming to challenge people’s perspectives of stage four cancer.

So far, she has raised over £1000 so far for Pseudomyxoma Survivor, a small non-profit organisation run by patients and caregivers to assist those affected by PMP.

She said: ‘As a stage 4 patient with a penchant for biking I couldn’t turn this down and not being one for half measures I’m aiming to complete the full 90km route. 

‘This is going to be a particularly big challenge for me as last summer, a large tumour in my pelvis caused a bowel obstruction which landed me in hospital for six weeks to have another major operation not with the intension of curing me but ‘to get me out of trouble’ as I couldn’t eat or drink properly. 

‘Once again, I’m starting to develop my fitness from scratch and I haven’t been on my bike properly for a year.’

Alongside raising awareness and fundraising for a PMP charity she has been incredibly active surfing, cycling and dog sledding.   

‘The message I want to get across is when you have a stoma or an incurable diagnosis, things will be incredibly difficult.

‘My daily life is a rollercoaster—but with the right attitude, you can still achieve a lot.

‘And more importantly, enjoy whatever time you have.’