Gill Kohler, 62, from Standish, Wigan, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer two years ago after her niece noticed how much over-the-counter indigestion medicine she was relying on.
Now she is supporting a new Heartburn Health Roadshow, which will be in Greater Manchester in October, to help others spot potential symptoms of oesophageal cancer – also known as cancer of the foodpipe – sooner.
The roadshow is a partnership between the charity Heartburn Cancer UK and Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance – part of the NHS.
Gill, a mum-of-three and grandmother-of-six, had been working as an assistant headteacher when she first noticed problems.
She said: “I was on holiday in Portugal when I started finding it hard to swallow red wine – it felt like it was getting stuck.
“I thought it was a throat infection and would clear up when I got home. Then I developed a pain between my shoulder blades, almost like something was lodged there all the time. I thought I’d maybe scratched my throat and kept waiting for it to ease.”
Instead, Gill relied more heavily on Gaviscon to soothe the discomfort. When her niece Caeli came to stay, the turning point came. “We were supposed to be sharing a bottle of wine, but she noticed I’d drunk more Gaviscon than wine. That’s when I realised I had to see the doctor.”
Gill booked a GP appointment and was quickly referred for an endoscopy.
She said: “I still thought it would be nothing, but I could feel the atmosphere in the room change part way through the procedure and the nurse held my hand, and I realised this could be cancer.”
After the endoscopy at Leigh Infirmary, Gill was sent straight for a CT scan at Wigan’s Royal Albert Edward Infirmary and then had a biopsy a few days later to confirm oesophageal cancer. She also needed a feeding tube fitted as she’d lost weight and was struggling to eat.
Gill has since undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy, an operation to remove the cancer as well as immunotherapy.
Gill said: “The treatment has been tough and after surgery I struggled emotionally. But the nurses and dietitians were amazing. They visited me at home, supported my husband and family, and really carried me through.”
Now retired, Gill has regained her strength. She has enjoyed holidays in Greece, joined a pilates class, and is determined to raise awareness.
She said: “I’ll always be eternally grateful to Caeli for getting me to realise something was wrong. Usually, I’m always the one telling other people to see their doctor. But when it was me, I kept putting it off. I just needed someone who didn’t see me every day to tell me how bad it had got.
Gill wants others to hear her message: if you have persistent heartburn, swallowing difficulties, or unexplained pain—don’t ignore it.
She said: “I think the roadshow is a great idea. People need to know that taking over the counter medicines for long periods of time is not normal. I know how important it was I went to my GP when I did, so please if something feels wrong – get checked.”
The Heartburn Awareness Roadshow will offer free information and advice on the signs of oesophageal cancer. Organisers hope Gill’s story will encourage more people to seek help early. It runs from Monday 6 October to Friday 17 October. Find out more and visit the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance website.
Find out more and visit the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance website.
