Katie Price

Howdy! On 21 December I started chemo for Stage 3A Colon Cancer and on 24 December I'm shaving my head to raise funds for Bowel Cancer Australia. I won't lose my hair due to chemo which I'm cranky about because I love the shaved head look (previously done for Lifeline 131114). I also wanted to pay homage to Sinead O'Connor in the year we lost her genius to suicide. I also want to raise funds for the most helpful and informative participant in my cancer journey: Bowel Cancer Australia and their amazing supports including a nurse, nutritionist and a support group with a puntastic name: The Movement.

If it weren't for them I'd have been back in Canberra ready to start chemo 5 weeks early. You can't start chemo until you're 6 weeks post op. They've also put me onto the icing protocol (see profile pic) that reduces the risk of the main side effects: cold sensitivity, foot and mouth and peripheral neuropathy. I can't imagine trying to walk on numb feet with already genetically deformed knees. So I'm going to freeze my way through chemo. So many tips and tricks and supports to make this journey easier.

Cancer is quite clear and straightfoward. Dealing with many medical mysteries over the years has made me really good at navigating systems. What still blows my mind is not having to consult and try to convince multiple specialists to take me seriously.

Whenever something rubbish happens I try and find ways to ensure that those who follow in my footsteps have an easier time.

My path to diagnosis was incompetent and brutal. My gastroenterologist suggested a gastroscopy/colonoscopy in March which was finally scheduled for the end of August and then, owing to leave and reports being sent to the wrong doctors, I was only diagnosed at the end of October. If I hadn't sought to follow up the results of the gastroscopy with the general surgeon who performed the fundoplication surgery in March (attempting to fix my stomach to ensure its contents don't end up in my nose and lungs making it hard to breathe - it helped but didn’t cure) then I might not have found out until the end of November. Time is growth. My PET scan results on 15 December weren't conclusive around mets so I'm experiencing Scanxiety until early January. Even when I did find out the diagnosis was brutal "There's cancer in this sigmoid polyp. I'll print the results for you."

So I'm really hopeful this fund-raising effort might improve awareness around young people getting anything that feels wrong checked. I had diarrhoea for over a year that was unresponsive to medication. My stool samples were completely normal (apart from a C Diff infection which possibly masked the cancer). Thank goodness they agreed to perform the colonoscopy (even if leave meant the results weren't shared).

But, as ever, there are silver linings. Combining butt and black humour means I haven't laughed as long or as loud as post diagnosis. I get to pay tribute to Sinead O'Connor (Nothing Compares 2 U was my favourite video clip as a 4 year old!) and raise awareness around suicide prevention. I've spent a lot of time this year working in this space. Watch this space. And I get to rock my favourite hairstyle - by far. 

This time of year can be tough. And whilst it can be lonely it's well worth remembering we're never alone. Reach out. Lifeline 131114. Beyondblue 1300 22 4636.

I'll get through this by playing to my strengths - including doing scary / sporty/ strange stuff for charity.

I acknowledge times are tough and this is an expensive time of year. So donations of $2 are most welcome and still tax deductible.