How Could We Both Have Cancer ?

- Kim Willis and Frances Leate

Standing on the water’s edge, I held my three-year-old son Michael’s hand as he jumped in excitement. ‘Daddy’s in that boat!’ he cried, as my husband Martin, 31, sailed passed us in a beautiful yacht.

It was July 2006 and Martin’s sailing team had just won their race on Ullswater, Lake District. I was so proud, but then Martin adored sport, especially sailing and running.

We’d met training to become primary school teachers eight years before. It was hard work and we joked if we could get through that, we could get through anything. We’d married before Michael came along and now I was five months pregnant with our second child.

Now, as Martin clambered out of the yacht and came over to see us, he scooped Michael up for a hug. ‘My little mascot,’ he said, smiling. But then he rubbed his eyes. ‘The sailing must have taken it out of me,’ he said. ‘My eyes feel really blurred.’ It wasn’t like Martin to ever be ill but when he complained of blurred vision again a few days later, I booked an optician’s appointment. ‘You might need glasses,’ I said.

Truthfully, I wasn’t too worried – especially as I had my own problems. I’d been suffering terrible stomach cramps, which I’d just put down to how the baby was lying. Only now doctors were more worried and wanted to carry out a colonoscopy – a camera inserted into my colon – to check it wasn’t anything more sinister. Yet, I didn’t want to risk anything hurting my unborn baby and we agreed I’d have the procedure as soon as I’d given birth.