A SOUTHAMPTON doctor took part in this year’s Race for Life just days after her first chemotherapy treatment.
Dr Paula Hunt of Chartwell Green Surgery in West End was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer earlier this month after a bowel cancer scare.
The GP of 13 years received her first bout of chemotherapy nearly two weeks ago.
Despite this, she decided to run the 5k race at Southampton’s Race for Life on Saturday.
'I am not going to take my diagnosis lying down'
Dr Hunt, who lives in Bitterne Park, is determined to take her diagnosis “head on”.
The 52-year-old said: “I had a CT scan last month and it showed a very large tumour in my bowel, so it looked like I had bowel cancer.
“But after having a colonoscopy and tests I found out it is peritoneal cancer.
“I have three teenage boys, so when it looked like a really bad diagnosis, it’s like a juggernaut hits you.
“I heard about Race for Life on Tuesday, July 19 so I thought I would take part in the 5k race with three other members of the surgery.
“I am either going to crawl under the duvet every day or grab life by the balls - I am not going to give in and take it lying down.
“I am going to stand up and seize the day, every day.
"Cancer may be dictating some things but I have a lot of other choices.”
READ MORE: Southampton painted pink as thousands take part in Race for Life
'Be unashamed to talk about cancer'
Dr Hunt has only worked at Chartwell Green Surgery since April this year but said the surgery has been “incredibly supportive”.
In light of this, she is hoping to introduce a cancer support group hosted at the surgery.
Dr Hunt said: “I was in the hospital waiting room recently and a lady came up to me and she looked like she was suffering. She was on her own and struggling with life.
“I am so fortunate I have a really good network of support but there must be lots of people who don’t, and their situation makes it all harder.
“I spoke to Amanda Galea, managing partner of Chartwell Green Surgery, about hosting a monthly chat for people with cancer at the surgery.
“It can be somewhere people can go to talk about things. We have got to be able to talk about cancer and unashamed to do so.
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“If it’s not talked about, you become a ghost.
“Hopefully there will be windows in time where we can get this support group off the ground.”
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