Shona's story - Cervical and Bowel Cancer

In June 2021, Shona and Will welcomed their son Mason to the world, completing their family alongside their daughter Thea.

Shona said it felt like their family was 'clicking together nicely'.

She said: "Then I started bleeding. There wasn’t any pain, the blood clots started getting larger."

In February 2022, she was referred to hospital for more tests.

Shona, who lost her own mum when she was 11, was shocked to be diagnosed with cervical cancer.

"I was terrified. Will was with me when we went back to the hospital for the results. He was calm and was right there by my side as he always had been. He promised we’d get through this together."

Just weeks into Shona's treatment, which included chemotherapy, radiotherapy and brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy), Will experienced severe pain in his abdomen and was getting exhausted.

Shona said: "Will's health always was a bit up and down. He had ulcerative colitis; he just wasn't feeling right; he was starting to feel lumps in his stomach."

In August she was admitted to hospital and just 24 hours later, the couple were devastated to hear the news that Will had advanced bowel cancer that was terminal.

"I'd just received results to say that there was a definite shrinkage of my tumour. My cancer treatment was working but there was nothing to celebrate with so much going on.

"It was so bittersweet because I was sitting there thinking to myself: 'How am I getting better and my husband is upstairs dying?' It’s just not fair."

Will died on 1st September 2022.

"I couldn't believe it. This was the man I'd loved since I was a teenager, the man I shared my life with, the man I thought I'd grow old with and he was gone.

"Will was my rock, my everything. He was a brilliant dad and our daughter Thea was a real daddy's girl. It's unfair that only two weeks after he took our daughter to school for the first time, we lost him.

"I can't explain why I survived cancer and Will didn't. I suffer from survivor's guilt that I am here and Will isn't. Although he's gone from sight, he will always be in our hearts."

"I am supporting Stand Up To Cancer as I want to raise awareness about screening and the importance of early diagnosis, and to help fund research today to help future generations."