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Today, Iain, from our Support Group, shares his story:

For well over a year I noticed my belly steadily getting bigger though I didn't seem to be eating any more than normal. I of course tried dieting a few times but when I didn't lose weight I gave up pretty quickly.

At work I used to eat at my desk and started noticing when I brushed down the crumbs (mucky pup!), I felt a pain right down the surface of my chest but again didn't think it was more than just getting fat.  But around October 2012, this pain in my chest began bothering me all the time and found it very difficult to tie my shoe laces so only then did I go to the Doctors.

My Doctor thought I might have a hernia and sent me to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for an Ultrascan.  I got this appointment within a week and was seen first by a student who could not explain what she saw so called the nurse who also had a look.  She also couldn't explain what she was seeing so then called a doctor who explained that there was something there obscuring the view but again he had never seen this before and recommended my own GP send me for a CT scan which he did.

I had the CT scan early December and waited 2 weeks for the results. I was surprised when Mr Polignano at Ninewells Hospital wanted to see me the following week to discus the results but still not fearing anything serious was wrong I went on my own to be told I had this rare cancer PMP which needed the huge operation you all know about.

My operation lasted 12 hours followed by the Chemo Pack for another 2 hours and eventually got to Intensive Care after midnigh.  I only spent one day in Intensive care and was taken to the High Dependency Unit for a further 5 days. During this time I have to admit I had short periods of depression and wanted to die as I felt so bad but luckily these feelings didn't last long as the staff were marvellous and made me as comfortable as I could possibly get.

I was then transferred to a private room on a ward where i stayed for a further 2 weeks.  I was given a pass to go home for a long weekend but was let back home as they could see I was eating much better at home and getting much more exercise that I was on the ward.
So I was in hospital for just over 3 weeks.

When I was initially told I don't think I really took it in; I had a wee cry in the car and went back to work. It was difficult telling others as my mother, partner, friends and family, seemed to take it quite bad.  Apart from one day, 2 days after I was told, I've never really got upset whilst everyone around me acted like they were going to lose me.  I did get upset when my original operation was cancelled as I lay on the bed sedated waiting for the operation to begin, and then to receive a letter saying I had to wait a month until the new date. I did get chest pains which my Doctor said was acid reflux which I am prone too but I think it was also anxiety.  I do get very emotional about anything and should really stop watching programmes like 'NHS In A Day' as I always end up in tears. This emotion is not in anyway sympathy for my own condition as I have always accepted I have no control over it and want to get on with a normal life.

I feel quite good at the moment but want to push on the recovery so I can get back to work. I'm an impatient patient!!  My stoma is soon to be reversed and I can't wait for that.  I worry about catching any colds or worse off people in supermarkets etc. but will not become a hermit.

My advice to tohers is to stay positive whilst recovering as it does help. As one doctor doing his daily rounds told me,

" We can help you overcome any physical problems but It's up to you to keep your mind positive." and he was right.

To read more stories like Iain's, please visit our Survivors' Stories page.

Today's guest blogger is Stacey who tells us why she and Antje took part in The Gauntlet.

We did it!

We ran THE GAUNTLET 5.8k race at Mucky Races!

Considering it had snowed only the week before, the weather was kind to us.  It was sunny but fresh.  However, it also meant the water along the course was very high and also very cold so our nerves were showing a little.  Well, mine were as it was my first time taking part in a Mucky Races event, Antje seemed quite calm about it all having ran a 'Guts and Glory' event previously.   We all gathered for a warm-up to music organised on the day then progressed to the start line.

We're off!

The first thing was to run past Spains Hall,  Elizabethan country house near Finchingfield in Essex, and I have to say, it's absolutely beautiful.  This was the civilised part of the race, it got seriously mucky from here on in.  Next up, running through the woods and scrambling over ditches.  All pretty dry so far...

Then we got to the lake.  We all took it in turns to wade through the edge of the lake with water up to our waists.  Antje and I decided we'd hold hands through all the tough obstacles and it was a good tactic as it was pretty slippery.  After another run through the grounds and out into the countryside, we came to a stream where some locals had set up a little spot in the sunshine, enjoying a pint and a giggle at the crazy muddy people trekking past their house.  We could really have done with a pint at this point! Ha ha!

Our task was to 'run' across the stream then on to the obstacles the other side.  We had to balance along a beam, go under a rope cargo net then 'hop' through a load of tyres.  All energy sapping stuff.  More running then on to a deep ditch.  We had to cross it so many times I lost count! It was so deep sided and by this point as so many people had trundled through it, was so slippery getting out of either side that Antje and I stopped for ages helping out other ladies who were also stuck.  It wasn't the most glamorous of situations to be in, we're all covered in mud being pushed and pulled all over the place, but I've never laughed so much.  It was brilliant! 

After the ditches came the wall. It was a series of huge hay bales towering over six foot.  After more pushing and pulling and a few leg ups we got ourselves and others up and over and then on to more running through the woods.  Then the mud pit. This part of the course was SO muddy, we sank down past our knees the second we tried to walk on it. So crawling it was then! At this point we were starting to be lapped by the crazy 12k runners. As so many people had passed through the mud pit before us, it had got so bad the course guides advised we crawled around the edges. A few people were now stuck in the middle of the pit and I think they were seriously considering having to pull people out by a rope!  Several people lost shoes at this point but Antje and I had taped ours to our feet. 

More lakes, more pits, more ditches and more nets to crawl under until the final obstacle.  The raft.  It was floating on a pond that was about waist height and we had to dive under it through the muddy water.  It was quite disorientating and SO cold it took your breath away.  We were both so proud of ourselves for doing it though. A final push took us to the finish line looking wet and bedraggled but surprisingly clean after our little dip.  Yay, we did it!  Participants were given a goody bag and a t-shirt (which I now wear with pride at bootcamp) and we trundled back to the car to dry off, warm up and refuel.  Exhausted and bruised but happy.

We dedicated our sponsorship to Pseudomyxoma Survivor as our lovely friend Claire has been fighting PMP for some time.  We felt that although there are so many deserving charities out there and many people pick a large well known one, this one was close to our hearts and we wanted to raise as much awareness as we could. The support and friendliness of Pseudomyxoma Survivor has been so important for Claire and as there is so little aid or awareness of this type of cancer we felt we just had to help in any way we could. What better way than to get MUCKY?!

 - Stacey. x

if you would like to make a donation, please visit Stacey and Antje JustGiving page.

As you may know, Julie ran the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday last to raise awareness of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei.  She had an amazing race finishing in 4:28:01 - beating her target of 4:30:00.  Not only has Julie been training for this, her first marathon, but she has also been managing the Pseudomyxoma Marathon Challenge 2013.  At the beginning of the year, Julie set us a challenge to run, walk or crawl 26 miles/42 km in a predetermined period, whatever was a challenge to you personally.

For example:

42km in 4 weeks = 10.5km/week
42km in 8 weeks = 5km/week + 2 bonus km
42km in 12 weeks = 3.5km/week

Support for the challenge has been fantastic.  As well as classes at the school where Julie teaches taking part, she has had support worldwide.  Today, our guest blogger is Deborah, herself a pseudomyxoma survivor, who co-ordinated the challenge for 'team LA' in sunny California:

One of the most positive things that came out of my illness was finding an amazing group of PMP Cancer patients, caregivers and survivors simply called PMP Cancer Survivors Group.  They are an 800 plus strong group that shares stories, gives support and information to patients and their caregivers.

Whenever I have an odd symptom, I find someone in the group who has had it and has a solution. Before this group, I would panic over things that were normal for someone who has had my illness and treatment.  They also bolster each other mentally and emotionally. It is beyond wonderful to have a group of people to talk to who have walked in my shoes.  They are there for Jon as well.  If this wasn't enough, the group has members who've started charities to raise awareness or to help fund research or help patients. One such charity is Pseudomyxoma Survivor.  On Sunday, one of our group ran in the London Marathon to help raise money and awareness for the charity.  There is so little in the way of aid for this cancer every little bit truly helps.  To help support the group, Jon, Ohio buddy Bruce Kline, the infamous Craig and I have been doing our own marathons to raise money.  Every week we log those miles. This past Friday, we passed 53 miles or two marathons.  We were hoping that in doing this, Julie wouldn't be running alone.

I thought of it as running a marathon on the layaway plan. I do at least 3 miles per errand and at least 4 errands a week. The miles add up quickly.  Jon walks two miles per day as part of his commute to work, and then we do 3 or more on the weekends.  We decided to finish our second marathon circuit walking from Marina del Rey to Venice Circle on Venice Beach.  It was a 4 mile stretch to cap off a week of walking every day.  Though it probably wasn't smart for me to do after a week that included planting a community garden.  I really wanted to do as much as the rest of the team did last week.

Bruce Kline does his walking during disc golf when not relaying traffic reports for his Columbus radio station.  He does 3 to 4 miles each course and typically does a couple courses a week.  Bruce and I have been friends since the 1980s when we both worked in Manhattan.  He was an aspiring musician and radio DJ.  I was trying to peddle my writing.  Currently, he is a musician in his home town of Columbus, Ohio where he is an on-air radio personality.  He also writes music for some of our film ventures.

And then there's Craig. He runs up mountains for fun. He was the only marathon runner. He did his part in big jags. During the second circuit, he nearly got 'swatted' by an LAPD SWAT team investigating can urgent call at singer Rhianna's estate. And last week, he ran a half marathon run on behalf of the fallen at the Boston Marathon.  I've worked with Craig in our day jobs off and on the entire time we've lived in LA.  He is a gifted writer whose life seems to be out of any Coen Brothers movie.  He's never been an actor, but he is one of the most entertaining people I know.  He also looked after me when I was at my sickest by taking me to and from appointments and making my sides split with laughter. What we did wasn't a lot in the face of the terrible toll this cancer takes, but we had to do something. I'm very proud of the team and the team is proud to be part of this incredible effort.

A huge thank you to team LA for taking part in this worldwide marathon challenge and congratulations on completing 2 marathons.  To show your support for Team LA, please visit their JustGiving page.

See all of Team LA's photos here: http://dlwarner.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_21.html.  You can follow Deborah's blog here - http://dlwarner.blogspot.co.uk/.