Incurable cancer survivor writes memoir to help others

A mother’s long battle with gallbladder and thyroid cancer becomes a memoir to support others facing rare cancers.

Ten years with incurable cancer and a mission to help others

Colette Swindells, a mother from Runcorn, did not seek care for indigestion for years until a neck lump prompted medical tests. A gallbladder removal in 2016 revealed cancer, and after further surgery at another hospital she faced multiple cancers across several years, including thyroid cancer that later spread. She underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and despite ongoing treatment she has remained alive for nearly a decade since the first diagnosis.

After more surgeries and a hysterectomy during the Covid era, she learned the cancer would never be cured. She describes a shift from fear to acceptance and has written a book to raise awareness and provide information for others with rare cancers. She hopes her story helps others who feel isolated by the lack of research and support.

The case shows how long standing symptoms like indigestion can mask serious disease and how gaps exist in early detection for rare cancers. It also highlights the toll of repeated treatments and the emotional burden on families when a prognosis is chronic rather than curable. The move to publish a memoir frames illness as a form of advocacy, inviting readers to demand better information and support for people with rare cancers. This trend reflects a broader push for patient-led initiatives that fill gaps left by research and health systems.

Highlights

Her story challenges readers to consider how society supports people facing rare cancers.