A TERMINALLY ill Reading woman’s efforts to raise awareness of stomach cancer symptoms continue despite her being now too ill to continue the work herself.
Shona Johnson’s passion is to give others the best chance of benefitting from life-saving early detection of gastric cancer.
An online campaign that bears her name continues to thrive despite the fact that Shona is now receiving palliative care, and is no longer able to participate herself.
Aged just 34, she wants people to know that gastric cancer can affect young people.
Although it is mainly a disease of older patients, it can strike anyone, regardless of age.
Friend Debs Baldree set up a campaigning Facebook page, Shona’s Stones, after meeting the young mum of three, Shona, in hospital.
“I was a patient in the same ward, and we really hit it off,” said Ms Baldree.
“We discovered we knew many people in common and wondered why we hadn’t come across each other before.
“I already ran another Facebook group, Reading Kindness Rocks, which hides stones for people to find, to spread joy and brighten their day.
“So when I met Shona in hospital, we realised that an online group could be a good way to share helpful information about gastric cancer.”
Hiding in plain sight, colourfully decorated pebbles around Reading, Shona’s Stones members prompt people to be aware of cancer symptoms that should alert them to see their GP.
The stones carry caring messages and a nudge to visit the group’s Facebook page.
Shona’s cancer journey began in late 2021 when she first experienced IBS-like (irritable bowel syndrome) symptoms, including stomach pains, bloating, sickness and appetite loss that worsened over time.
Shona and her partner of ten years, Jahred, were due to wed in March 2022.
Three weeks before the wedding, severely anaemic and unwell, she was given a CT scan.
The scan revealed an oesophageal hernia, and Shona was told that this, low iron levels, and IBS were causing her symptoms, rather than cancer.
The wedding was a special day for all the family, but two months later, and by now very ill, Shona was a patient at The Royal Berkshire Hospital, where doctors carried out CT scans and multiple blood tests.
None of these detected cancer, and Shona was repeatedly reassured that she was very unlikely to have the disease.
According to Cancer Research, half of all new stomach cancer diagnoses occur in patients over the age of 75.
At just 34, Shona was not considered to be at risk.
However, young people can suffer from gastric cancer, and with a family history of the disease, her chances of having the disease were increased.
It wasn’t until the end of June 2022 that further tests revealed Shona had gastric cancer.
It had reached stage four, and was now terminal.
“Had it been diagnosed sooner, the outcome could have been so different,” said Ms Baldree.
“This is why Shona is so passionate about raising awareness.
“Her hope for the campaign is that people who find Shona’s Stones will begin conversations that will encourage people with concerns to see their GP in good time.”
After her diagnosis, and in shock, the young mum was sent home with medication.
She was told that she had fewer than 18 months to live.
As the months have passed, Shona, her husband and her three young children have all had to cope with the changes ahead.
Twyford charity, Daisy’s Dream, has been supporting the youngsters.
“The charity is very dear to Shona,” said Ms Baldree.
“They guide children through the process of grief, and have been helping Shona’s children and school teachers to prepare for loss.”
Laura Lewis from Daisy’s Dream said: “It feels very special for our work to have been highlighted by a family who are benefitting directly from what we do.
“We are inspired every day by the way people handle such very difficult situations.
“Daisy’s Dream works with children, young people and their families through some of the toughest of times.
“Our team offer this support flexibly and with the needs of individual families at the heart of what we do.
“We would encourage anyone who has been affected by the death or terminal illness of a loved one to get in touch with us.
“We are also keen to hear from those that would like to find out more about how to support our charity so that we can continue offering this vital service.”
The family are concerned that lack of knowledge may have contributed to delays in detecting Shona’s cancer in time to treat and save her.
Because of this, another family friend Monya Lee is calling for a new health directive.
Called Shona’s Law, it aims to ensure that GP’s will not automatically assume cancer symptoms are due to other ailments.
A proposed checklist for them to follow would include blood and fluid tests for early detection, and automatic genetic testing for those with a family history of cancer, along with regular checks for family members.
Shona’s Law seeks full cancer screening for adults, not just current bowel, breast, and cervical testing, with all available treatment options accessible to NHS cancer patients.
Shona left hospital with very little information about her particular cancer, or how to access help.
Shona’s Law wants every cancer patient to receive a care plan booklet, outlining their diagnosis, treatments, and appointments, along with contacts of dieticians, palliative teams, and medical staff.
At the time of writing Shona is now very sick, cared for by The Sue Ryder Duchess Of Kent Hospice in Reading.
Ms Baldree is fundraising for cancer research, Daisy’s Dream, and for Shona’s family,
“Shona and her husband, Jahred, were both working before her diagnosis,” Ms Baldree said.
“Jahred had to give up his work to care for Shona and the children, and almost overnight the family’s circumstances changed.
“Shona has always been embarrassed and unwilling to ask for any help, but with so much pressure on the family, and costs rising, we really want to help pay for her funeral and to support Jahred and the children.
“We don’t want them to have to deal with more stress than is necessary while dealing with their loss.”
Shona and her family have recently been nominated for a Pride of Reading Family of the Year Award.
Sponsored by De Vere Wokefield Estate, the group seeks a Reading family who, through showing each other love, support, respect and kindness deserve special recognition as Family of the Year.
“It would be lovely if they won it,” said Ms Baldree.
For information about Shona’s Stones, and Reading Kindness Rocks, visit both Facebook pages.
(Shona’s Law can be accessed via Shona’s Stones.)
To find out about Daisy’s Dream, log onto: www.daisysdream.org.uk
For information about stomach cancer, visit: www.cancerresearchuk.org or www.nhs.uk/conditions/stomach-cancer
And anyone wishing to contribute to Shona’s family should visit GoFundMe and search for shonas cancer journey.
