Karen Bucknall is a 51-year-old woman from Acocks Green (now Gloucester) who is fighting a brain tumour. She has previously survived bowel cancer, a stroke and vagina cancer.

In 2019, Karen was diagnosed with bowel cancer after having frequent blood in her stool. She is passionate about others getting an early diagnosis and not being embarrassed to talk to a doctor about changes in their bodies.

She said, "I felt very ashamed, very embarrassed, absolutely mortified this was happening to me and trying to make it go away and it wasn't going to get any better. In fact, it got a lot worse."

Karen was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer and underwent a range of gruelling procedures and treatments including the fitting of her colostomy bag. When receiving her diagnosis she said, "I felt relieved that I knew what it was. Frightened, to say the least, and I thought this will be about a two-year journey."

Karen underwent six weeks of radiotherapy treatment to shrink the tumour at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital in June 2019. She has since received treatment at Heartlands hospital, Good Hope and Solihull.

During her treatment, Karen was completing a Sociology degree at Coventry University and was undergoing chemotherapy as she wrote her dissertation. She is also an inspiring journalist and has won a national ‘Breaking into Journalism’ ITV and Media Trust award and gained a professional media qualification.

Karen added, "What I would say now in hindsight, three years on since being diagnosed with bowel cancer that did spread and nearly two years in remission from bowel cancer. You know your body you know what's right for you. If you are having problems in the poo department or wee, or you're bleeding from the back passage or the vagina for no reason I would say listen to your body. That gut feeling that says something isn't right. Visit your doctor. By being honest it can save your life and be the difference between stage one, stage two and stage four"

In July 2020 Karen rang the bell and was in remission. She said, "I rang the bell and it was like winning Mrs World. It was a wonderful moment all of the cancer nurses came outside and watched me ring the bell. They took pictures and they clapped. It was such a sense of achievement because cancer isn't a fiv5-minute job.  It's a marathon and you will hit many brick walls along the way."

In November of 2020, Karen had been in remission for three months when she was told the devastating news that she had a brain tumour.
Karen said, "I was having brain headaches, constant pressure in my head that wouldn't go away. I felt dizzy all the time I had problems with mobility, balance, and vertigo."

Now awaiting a clinical trial for her brain tumour she recently discovered the news that she has cancer markings on her liver. She said, "My cancer goes on a world tour. It is being monitored at the moment because at some stage it will turn into liver cancer. Cancer does have a mind of its own."

When asked how she has dealt with all the devastation and frequent diagnoses in her life, Karen said, "I will probably die of my brain tumour but I intend to have a good time and live each day and help and support people who are going through the same things. All the things I have wanted to do I have done.  I don't see it as a death sentence. I see it as a chance to make the most of every day."

University Hospitals Birmingham Charity understands how devastating a cancer diagnosis can be and we work across our hospital's cancer departments to ensure we are funding much-needed equipment, patient comforts and research.