Real Stories, Real Impact
Anita’s story
“It helped me realise that once you’ve had cancer, you’ve got to live your life after it.”
Anita Tucknutt, headteacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon, was volunteering at a half marathon event when she first started experiencing unusual symptoms. After seeking advice from the GP, Anita was sent for a CT scan with her doctors suspecting cancer. In April 2022, following a biopsy, Anita received the devastating diagnosis that she had bowel cancer and was referred straight to Velindre to meet Consultant Oncologist, Professor Richard Adams.
Anita was reassured by Professor Adams who advised an initial surgery to give her a stoma, before treating her with chemotherapy then radiotherapy to try and shrink the tumour, before a second much larger surgery. Unfortunately, Anita had to attend her appointments alone as Covid-19 restrictions were still in place, but she describes how everyone at the hospital wrapped their arms around her when she first arrived, giving her the support and comfort she needed.
“I remember the first time coming through the gates at Velindre, you don’t expect to be here and you don’t know what’s going to happen to you.”
Impact on patients and families
One thing Anita struggled with when she was diagnosed with cancer was telling her youngest son, Harry, who was just 11 at the time. Anita relied on Michele Pengelly, Supportive Care Lead Nurse, for support, and to help her navigate conversations with Harry by using the charity-funded ‘Caring for My Family with Cancer’ books and lion teddies. Anita described how Harry enjoyed seeing areas local to Cardiff in the books, especially as they were places the family would often go for walks. Anita has since taken the books into her school so the whole community of pupils and their families can make use of them.
Anita also spoke highly of her Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Sarah Davies, who was there at the other end of the phone whenever Anita needed to ask questions. Anita recalls one time when her chemotherapy was cancelled, she called Sarah in a panic. Sarah was incredibly reassuring and took the time to answer all of Anita’s questions, always finding out information, before coming back to her with the answers.
Anita mentioned to her CNS Sarah that she could do with some support and Sarah referred her to the clinical psychologist and counselling team.
It was here, Anita met with clinical psychologist, Dr Caroline Coffey. With Caroline, Anita opened up about the journey she’d been on and really began to process what had happened. Caroline helped Anita come to terms with what she’d been through and how to live her life moving forward.
After finishing her treatment towards the end of 2022, Anita had to undergo a major 10-hour surgery to remove the tumour. The surgery was so extensive that Anita didn’t know if she would come through the other side of it. Thankfully, Anita’s surgery was successful, but then she had to start the long journey of recovery.
“Finishing radiotherapy, that’s when I felt I needed some support. You’re on this treadmill of treatment, then the journey of treatment is over but it’s not really. Now the battle starts to recover.”
“Without the support of the people working here, I don’t know where I would be. I’m just grateful for everyone that’s given me the chance to be living life, back to being able to be a mum and back with my school community.”
Looking to the future
With the support of our fundraisers and donors like Anita and the whole community at Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon who rallied around her when she needed it most, we can continue funding 50% of the Clinical Nurse Specialist roles, the entire clinical psychology and counselling team and the specialist children’s resources—all services that Anita relied on during her treatment. These essential services provide a lifeline to patients and families facing the wide-reaching impacts of a cancer diagnosis, ensuring they receive exceptional care and support at every stage of their cancer journey. Without charity funding, these services that transform patient care, simply wouldn’t exist.
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