A Rare Diagnosis

Claire Gerring, a 42-year-old hairdresser from Wantage, Oxfordshire, initially suspected she had endometriosis after an ultrasound in November 2022. She was placed on a waiting list in May 2023 for an investigative laparoscopy. However, after experiencing intense pain on her right side, a positive Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) led to a colonoscopy, which revealed an inverted appendix. A subsequent CT scan showed malignant tissue on the organ.

A biopsy on May 6, 2025, confirmed she had stage four Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP), a rare cancer that typically originates from a tumour in the appendix. She was referred to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, one of only two hospitals that specialise in PMP, where it was discovered the cancer had ruptured and spread nodules elsewhere in her body.

The Surgery

On July 15, 2025, Claire, who is a mother to sons Oscar, 15, and Spencer, 14, underwent a 10-hour operation to remove nine organs: her appendix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, gall bladder, spleen, uterus, and cervix. Additionally, her greater omentum, belly button, peritoneum lining, and part of her bowel were removed. Part of her liver was cut away, and her diaphragm was scraped and bladder stripped.

During the surgery, Claire received HIPEC chemotherapy, a treatment involving heated chemotherapy circulated around her abdomen. After four-and-a-half weeks in hospital, she was discharged. She has been left with bowel problems but currently has no evidence of disease and will be monitored for the next 20 years.

Emotional Impact

Claire described feeling scared and isolated after her diagnosis. "I felt really quite scared and quite alone after my diagnosis," she said. "When you've got a rare cancer and it's not something you've heard of before, there are not a lot of people to talk to about it."

She also reflected on the extent of the surgery, saying, "I was told by surgeons before my operation what they would remove. On top of that they cut part of my liver away and scraped my diaphragm and stripped my bladder. It's a lot to process. I'm lucky I had professionals who knew what they were doing." Claire called the operation "the mother of all surgeries" due to its severity.

Since her discharge, Claire has faced a bowel obstruction and was readmitted to hospital for a 10-day stay.

Fundraising and Awareness

Claire raised £16,002 for Pseudomyxoma Survivor through Just Giving and other events, including a masked ball on July 11, 2026. The charity gave £100,000 towards The Beacon Project, a research initiative creating a blood test to detect PMP and its recurrence earlier than current CT scans.

Claire said, "I just feel my main purpose for doing this is raising awareness about the rare cancer and Pseudomyxoma Survivor. I believe deeply that if you're willing to take, you must also be willing to give back. And here I am today, standing in front of you, having that promise."

Maddy Lomas, a trustee at Pseudomyxoma Survivor, praised Claire's efforts, saying, "As a charity, we are incredibly touched by the effort and generosity behind this fundraising event. What makes it even more special is that it has been organized by someone who knows first-hand what it means to face a diagnosis of PMP... For a small charity, the £16,002 raised is incredibly significant and will have a lasting impact."