Woman, 55, with just 12 months to live after stubbing her toe revealed to be ‘silent killer’

A WOMAN was given 12 months to live just weeks after breaking her toe.

Sharon Daley was about to fly to Tenerife, Spain, with her sister when she banged her foot on the bed.

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Despite the pain, she went on vacation and limped for a week in the sun.

Upon returning, Sharon went to A&E, where tests revealed her blood level was worryingly low.

Two weeks later, the 55-year-old was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer.

Initially, doctors hoped they could treat him with surgery.

But on May 17, Sharon received the devastating news that the disease was incurable.

With chemotherapy, she has 12 months to live, and without chemotherapy, just three to six.

Sharon, who chose to try to prolong her life as long as possible, said: “I was there with my sister and we were shocked.”

Looking back, the former charity worker, from Brighton, East Sussex, reckons her symptoms started in February – but she didn’t think much of them at the time.

“I felt really nauseous, which I don’t normally feel, and I had a little bit of a stomach ache, but I didn’t pay much attention to any of them,” she said.

In March, she was preparing to travel to the Canary Islands for seven days when she stubbed her toe on the bed.

Having hurt before and knowing there were “few things doctors could do”, she didn’t have the exam, hoping the pain would subside while she was gone.

Unfortunately, Sharon spent the week “limping in her sneakers.”

When she returned, she still couldn’t walk, so she went to the hospital on Good Friday to confirm that she hadn’t broken any bones in her foot.

“While I was there, I mentioned that I was short of breath, so they did some blood tests and X-rays,” she said.

“They identified that my blood level had dropped significantly, so I ended up receiving two transfusions, but I didn’t really understand what was happening.”

Sharon had a follow-up appointment the following week and was admitted to a ward.

Additional tests identified that she had a stomach ulcer that was bleeding and could be malignant.

His diagnosis of stomach cancer was confirmed two weeks later.

I probably wasn’t the healthiest person in the world, but I wasn’t sick – at least I didn’t think so

Sharon Daley

“I thought, ‘How did this happen and why?’” Sharon said.

“I had been feeling a little tired for a while, but I put it down to my mental health problem.

“I do mammograms and bowel swabs, so I actively screen for cancer, but stomach cancer is just not something they screen for.

“I probably wasn’t the healthiest person in the world, but I wasn’t sick – at least I didn’t think so.”

DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS

At the time, she was told that her condition was curable with an operation to remove part of her stomach and pancreas, but on May 1, after a laparoscopy, she discovered that this was not the case.

Then her oncologist dealt the most brutal blow – Sharon was given 12 months to live with chemotherapy and three to six without it.

“It was difficult to tell my 21-year-old niece; we are very close,” she said.

The aunt is still waiting for a date to start chemotherapy, but for now she is being supported by Macmillan.

“They were fantastic and really helped me,” she said.

To say thanks, Sharon is raising money for the charity through GoFundMe.

She was already “overwhelmed” by the response.

“A huge thank you to everyone for the donation,” she said.

“Having worked in the charity sector, I know, especially in the current climate, that fundraising is an issue.

“But Macmillan’s work has really helped our lives, even in this short difficult period, so this means a lot.”

Sharon wants to spend the rest of her life, whatever time she has left, surrounded by her loved ones.

“I want to spend as much time as possible with her and my sister – that’s the most important thing to me,” she said.

The enthusiastic traveler also hopes to check a few things off her bucket list before the end of the year.

“I’ve had to forget some of the things I wanted to do, like going to India, because I realized I won’t be able to travel that far, so anywhere outside of Europe has disappeared,” Sharon said. .

“But I really hope to arrange a visit to Portofino, Italy, as well as spending the night on the Orient Express.

“I’m a ridiculous Sound of Music fan, so I’d also love to go to Salzburg, Austria.

“Me and a friend said years ago we were going to do this, so I’m hoping to rush this. I know all the words.”

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