A Norfolk cancer survivor is backing a Cancer Research UK campaign to help give hope to future generations.
When Alison Dunnell noticed her stomach was expanding in November 2019, she thought it was a symptom of the menopause, so it came as a shock to find out, in fact, the swelling was a sign of ovarian cancer.
The mum-of-three, who lives in Thorpe Marriott, where she also works at the Tesco Express shop, underwent an operation weeks later, on Christmas Eve, before a course of chemotherapy in the new year.
Now fit and well, the 52-year-old is urging people across Norfolk to give regularly to Cancer Research UK, after taking drugs the charity helped develop.
Life-saving cancer treatments are made by months and months of trialling, testing and learning, but monthly progress in research needs monthly donations.
By sharing her story, Alison hopes to inspire others to play a part in the fight against the disease. With around 36,600 people diagnosed with cancer every year in the East of England*, Alison’s message is clear: To save lives tomorrow, Cancer Research UK needs the public’s support today.
Alison said, “Research into better treatments has helped give me more precious time with my loved ones. For example, soon I’ll be enjoying a trip to Antigua, where my husband’s aunt and uncle are getting married. Special moments like these would not be possible without the dedication of scientists who are relentlessly striving towards new discoveries and milestones month after month. This vital work needs our support.”
Alison first mentioned her weight gain to a Zumba instructor friend, who gave her some exercises to try and help. After two or three weeks, with no difference made, Alison saw a GP. Investigations found a tumour and within a month she underwent an operation to remove it.
She said, “The operation took six hours on Christmas Eve. I was given an open section and they found the tumour was cancerous. This meant I also had a full hysterectomy, and my appendix and lymph nodes were removed – not the best Christmas present!
“I was in hospital for five days and because it was before COVID I was allowed visits from family and friends, which lifted my spirits. My lovely family then looked after me when I returned home.
“As the cancer had leaked into my lymph nodes, I had to undergo six lots of chemotherapy, once every three weeks, to be on the safe side.”
For her chemotherapy, a course of treatment that finished just in time for her 50th birthday, Alison took a combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin, also known as CarboTaxol and PC. Cancer Research UK played a major part in developing the drugs.
She continued, “I now undergo checks every six months, but everything’s otherwise fine and back to normal.
“I’ve always been very positive, as have my family and friends. I guess the experience has taught me to take whatever opportunities life brings your way.
“I’ve even been skiing for the first time in 30 years. I couldn’t decide whether to go, but I did because you never know what’s round the corner!
“I’ll also keep doing Race for Life as I’ve been doing it to raise money for years now.
“If I’d been diagnosed with cancer 10 or 20 years ago the outcome might not have been the same for me and that’s down to research.
“By making a monthly donation to Cancer Research UK, people across Norfolk could help give hope to many more families like mine and invest in long-term research that could save lives for generations to come.”
Alison lives with her husband, Martin, and daughters, Gemma, 25, and twins Molly and Amy, 21.
Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, Cancer Research UK was able to spend over £51 million in the East of England last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.
While 2022 marks the charity’s 20th anniversary, its history dates back to the founding of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in 1902. During this time, its work has led to more than 50 cancer drugs used across the UK – and around the world – from widely used chemotherapies to new-generation precision treatments.
In fact, drugs linked to the charity are used to treat more than 125,000 patients in the UK every year – that is three out of every four patients who receive cancer drugs on the NHS.
Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the East of England Michael Jarvis said:
“One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime,** but all of us can help beat it. As we mark our 20th anniversary, we’re reflecting on how far we’ve come thanks to supporters like Alison. From proving the link between smoking and cancer to laying the foundations for modern radiotherapy, our scientists have been at the forefront of cancer research for 120 years. And we’re not stopping now.
“Monthly donations make a huge difference to advances such as this because they allow us to plan for the future and the more we can plan the more projects we can fund to unlock more of cancer’s secrets. So, we hope people will give regularly to the charity if they can.
“We’re working towards a world where we can all live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. Beating the disease is a long game, but it’s one that – together – we’ll win.”
Donate monthly to Cancer Research UK at cruk.org/donate
Above – Alison enjoying skiing, during treatment, and with Zumba instructor friend, Sarah-Jayne, and daughter Gemma.
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