My Diagnosis

This page exists to provide medical context for the writing on this site.

I was diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) in 2025 — a rare cancer that typically originates in the appendix and spreads within the abdominal cavity. The diagnosis came unexpectedly, during what was assumed to be routine surgery.

Everything else on this site sits downstream of that moment.

Who this may be relevant for

If you’re reading this because you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with PMP, some of what appears elsewhere on this site may feel familiar — even though every experience is different.

This site isn’t written as guidance or instruction. It’s my personal account of what followed: the emotional impact, the long recovery, and the quieter work of adapting to a life that no longer looks the way it once did.

Partners and carers may also recognise parts of their own experience reflected here, even when the details differ.

Medical context (brief)

PMP is a rare condition, and its presentation and treatment vary significantly between individuals.

In my case, treatment involved major abdominal surgery followed by a prolonged period of recovery. The medical details are complex and specific, and this page is not intended to describe treatment pathways or outcomes.

I don’t write here as a medical authority. Anyone facing a diagnosis should always rely on their clinical team for medical advice and decisions.

This page exists solely to ground the personal writing elsewhere on the site.

Where to go next

If you’d like to continue, there are a few different places you may find useful, depending on what you’re looking for.

My Journey
A chronological account of how this diagnosis unfolded and what followed — from the first sign, through diagnosis and surgery, and into recovery.
→ Read My Journey

Healing
Writing about the emotional and psychological realities that often sit alongside serious illness — especially after treatment ends, when the world assumes you’re “better”.
→ Read about Healing

Rebuilding
Reflections on adjusting to life after everything has changed — energy, routines, identity, and expectations.
→ Read about Rebuilding

You don’t need to read everything, or anything in a particular order. Take what’s useful and leave the rest.

A final note

This site isn’t intended to explain PMP, represent anyone else’s experience, or offer answers. It exists to hold my account of disruption, recovery, and adaptation — written carefully, and without urgency.