Rebecca Hind.
A woman in Cumbria, England, has endured a medical journey as extraordinary as it is harrowing—surviving the removal of 13 internal organs following a rare and devastating cancer diagnosis that stemmed from what she first thought was food poisoning.
Rebecca Hind, now 39, first experienced symptoms after an office Christmas party in December 2018. Initially brushing it off as food poisoning, she grew alarmed when her illness persisted for months. “By the time they found it, I was pretty much riddled with it,” she later told The Telegraph. “It was heartbreaking. But I’ve just got to try to get on with life, and deal with whatever comes my way.”
Multiple tests finally revealed the culprit: pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) — an incredibly rare mucinous cancer that affects only one in a million people. According to the Cleveland Clinic, PMP spreads by releasing mucin (a component of mucus) throughout the abdominal cavity, attacking organs and causing symptoms like nausea, pain, and loss of appetite.
In April 2019, at just 34 years old, Hind underwent the first of many intense surgeries—having her appendix, umbilicus, lesser omentum, and more than 1.6 gallons of mucin removed. Despite eight rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer persisted.
By November 2019, she endured an even more radical procedure. Surgeons removed her gallbladder, spleen, large bowel, stomach lining, ovaries, womb, uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, rectum, diaphragm linings, and part of her stomach and small intestine. The Mirror documented the extent of her surgery in detail.
Now living with a stoma and surviving on electrolyte fluid and up to 60 pills daily—including codeine, Imodium, and hormone therapy—Rebecca’s resilience remains undiminished. “I turn 40 this year and I want to say yes to everything,” she told The Mirror. “I’ve been surfing, in a hot air balloon, and dog sledding so far.”
Her outlook is as inspiring as her story: “The message I want to get across is when you have a stoma or an incurable diagnosis, things will be incredibly difficult. My daily life is a rollercoaster. But with the right attitude, you can still achieve a lot—and more importantly, enjoy whatever time you have.”
In pursuit of purpose beyond her personal battle, Hind launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise awareness and support for PMP research. She is participating in Chris Hoy’s “Tour de 4” charity bike ride, aiming to complete the full 90km route. “As a Stage 4 patient with a penchant for biking, I couldn’t turn this down… I’m aiming to complete the full 90km route!!” she wrote.
Even while preparing for the ride, she faced another hurdle: a large tumor in her pelvis resulted in another surgery and a six-week hospital stay.
Rebecca has chosen to donate all raised funds to Pseudomyxoma Survivor, a nonprofit helping those affected by the rare cancer. As of May 24, her fundraiser has reached $1,500 of her $1,760 goal.
Through staggering physical sacrifice and unshakable hope, Rebecca Hind is proving that even in the face of terminal illness, the human spirit can rise to ride again.
