A DETERMINED Gourock woman found she was facing a fight against a rare form of cancer — after going to see her doctor about a sore stomach.

Eileen Silcocks, who travels extensively in her job as a musician, conductor and composer, had been fit and healthy all her days.

But her life was turned upside down when she went to see her GP about a mild tummy ache.

It was eventually diagnosed as peritoneal cancer — a condition that mainly affects women and forms in the tissue lining the abdomen.

Eileen has undergone surgery, a course of chemotherapy and now faces an anxious wait to find out how well the treatment has worked.

The vibrant 60-year-old of Albert Road said: “I’ve always been fit and healthy, I didn’t even know who my doctor was.

“I experienced a mild tummy ache which wouldn’t go away so I went to see my GP and she sent me for scans, including an ultrasound at Inverclyde Royal and an MRI at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

“In July last year I was called back up to Paisley and was told I had cancer — I felt like I’d been hit by a bus, it was a huge shock.

“I was due to fly out to Germany the next day but had to drop everything.” Doctors initially thought Eileen had womb cancer which had spread into her peritoneum but it was actually the other way around.

She added: “I underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy, including the removal of my ovaries.

“During the operation the doctors realised that I had peritoneal cancer. Afterwards they told me it was stage ‘three c’, which was better as they previously thought I had stage four womb cancer.” A couple of weeks after the operation, Eileen started chemotherapy treatment at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.

She said: “I was allergic to one of the chemotherapy treatments which caused me to have neuropathy in my hands which, as a musician, was very frightening but they changed it.

“I also lost my hair but that didn’t bother me too much, I just felt incredibly tired and had no energy. But I had so much help from my friends far and wide.” Eileen finished her chemotherapy three months ago and is now awaiting the results of a CT scan.

She said: “The doctor said that the scan should be clear. But peritoneal cancer is known to be persistent so it will come back — it’s a question of when. I feel fairly accepting that what will be will be, there is no point in getting angry.

“I’m enjoying life and I love my work.

“I’ve also got a trip planned to visit my friend in New Zealand, so I’m looking forward to that.” Eileen encourages people to go to their GP if they experience any of the symptoms of peritoneal cancer, including a swollen tummy due to a build up of fluid, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhoea, feeling or being sick, indigestion, feeling bloated and loss of appetite.

She added: “I was never a person who went to my GP but it’s a good job I did.” Eileen is keen to thank everyone who has supported her, especially Womb Cancer Support UK – an organisation which provides information and support.

She said: “It was a huge relief to come across their Facebook page as I realised that I wasn’t alone. It really helped me through chemotherapy as I could ask ‘is this normal?’ or ‘should I be worried about that?’ — there was always someone there to give you an answer.

“Although I didn’t have womb cancer, it was still really helpful as we all went through similar experiences.” Eileen was also keen to thank Jacqueline Coyle, Macmillan Cancer Support’s local financial advisor, as well as the staff at Ardgowan Hospice and her amazing friends.

She added: “Jacqueline has been an absolute star. I have always worked for myself so I was worried about being off, but the help I got was extraordinary and took away that stress.

“I also want to thank Ardgowan Hospice, as they have been fantastic. Their volunteer driver took me up to the Beatson when I was getting my chemotherapy and I also enjoyed complimentary therapies. I also want to give my friends a five star rating as they have been so supportive and even knitted me a blanket.” For more information about Womb Cancer Support UK go to their Facebook page or email wcsuk@hotmail.co.uk You can find out about Macmillan Cancer Support by logging on to www.macmillan.org.uk or calling them on 0808 808 0000.