Healthy mum never expected to find ‘tumour size of a rugby ball’ in her liver

Lin, now 55, never smoked, kept physically fit and would only drink occasionally; she even felt absolutely fine up until her cancer diagnosis.

Attending a routine GP appointment regarding contraception, her doctor grew concerned when Lin’s blood pressure was high.

Wanting to investigate further, Lin’s doctor ordered urine and blood tests, as well as a kidney scan, thinking the issue could be related to the organ.

“I had the scan just before Christmas, which showed an enlarged kidney, and the GP sent me straight to the hospital to see a consultant,” Lin told Express.co.uk.

“He said it could be kidney cancer, which shocked me, as it was the first time the word had been mentioned.”

Lin shared how it all felt like a “bit of a rollercoaster ride” from that point onwards.

“I needed more scans; I was told it was not kidney cancer but something to do with my adrenal glands.

“I saw different specialists and was eventually referred to Kings College Hospital London.”

Lin was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) – a rare type of cancer that forms in glandular tissues.

“The tumour was doubling in size every 30 days and had grown into my liver,” Lin revealed.

“I was told a liver transplant surgeon would have to get involved in an operation and I would need a bed in the liver transplant unit.”

In February 2005, Lin had an eight-hour operation where a “tumour the size of a rugby ball was removed” alongside her adrenal gland and two-thirds of her liver.

“My children were only five and three at the time,” the mother-of-two shared.

After a six-month recovery period, Lin was free from cancer, but the disease later returned.

In December 2018, Lin experienced chest pain, which she put down to heartburn.

“It was only when I woke up coughing up blood one morning that I realised this was something more serious and immediately went to A&E,” Lin revealed.

“Initially, the doctors didn’t think this could possibly be connected to the ACC [the original tumour], but further analysis after surgery confirmed that it was.”

Lin is now “on a cocktail of medicines”, but is determined to live a “wonderful life filled with love and laughter”.

“While I may tire more quickly and do not do quite as much as I used to, I have a full quality of life, which I embrace,” Lin shared.

“I want as many people as possible to be aware of the amazing work carried out by Cancer Research UK.

“I am convinced that scientists and researchers will eventually find a cure for this terrible disease.

“Without the development of the medicines and treatments available today, my life could have been very different.”