Fife woman with incurable stage four cancer taking on Sir Chris Hoy's cycling challenge

A Fife woman living with stage four incurable cancer is set to take on Sir Chris Hoy’s cycling challenge in Glasgow.

At the end of November 2023, Rae Hyndman started to notice that her stomach was swelling. After going to her GP with what she initially thought was IBS, the 60-year-old was admitted to hospital for investigation.

Following blood tests, Rae was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer which had spread to her fallopian tubes, womb, liver, spleen, appendix, large and small bowel, diaphragm and her omentum, a fatty tissue which protects the abdominal organs.

Doctors told the mum that she may have anywhere between three to six months to live. From January to June the following year, Rae went through six rounds of chemotherapy and a major operation.

She had a number of organs, including her spleen and appendix, removed during the surgery, whilst cancerous tumours were cut from other affected areas.

The treatment allowed Rae to attend her son’s wedding and be there for the birth of her first grandchild

Rae is determined to complete the Tour de 4 cycling challenge. Supplied

Although the 60-year-old may never be cured from ovarian cancer, the markers in her blood have remained stable.

She now takes daily cancer inhibitor medication and is monitored closely by NHS oncology and gynaecology teams.

Rae says the ordeal has changed her perspective on what is important in life.

She told STV News: “It has been huge, not just for me but also for my family.

“It sounds like a cliché but every morning I wake up, I feel so happy. We could go away on bucket list holidays but after the diagnosis I didn’t want to be away from my family.

“I’m more focussed on the simple things now. All the things people usually worry about, after this you realise none of that matters.

“It made me realise how important health is.”

Rae is now determined to take on the Tour de 4, a charity cycle event set up by Sir Chris Hoy to raise money for cancer research.

Rae celebrating her 60th birthday, a milestone she never thought she'd reach. — Rae celebrating her 60th birthday, a milestone she never thought she’d reach. Supplied

The Olympic champion launched the brand new cycling initiative to change perceptions around stage 4 cancer following his own diagnosis.

Rae, from Cupar, believes the Olympian’s cancer journey reflects her own

She explained: “Chris Hoy’s story is like mine.

“He went from being a healthy person to then having stage four cancer. I agreed with him that when I hear someone has stage four cancer I always thought that was it, you are unable to do anything.

“In some cases that is true, but I just feel that there is still hope. The news is still devastating but you may still have a good quality of life with your family.

“I feel as healthy as I did before the diagnosis. I think, like Chris Hoy, I want people to know you can live with stage four cancer.”

The mum has signed up to cycle the Red Route, which is a 56-mile road cycle, with her daughter Emma, her friend and her cycling trainer Graham Barclay.

Rae with her family on holiday. Supplied

Rae is aiming to raise as much money as possible for Ovarian Cancer Action and to use her story to make more women aware of the disease.

She said: “Chris Hoy is campaigning for a screening methodology, I think we need the same for women to help diagnose ovarian cancer.

“There is a screening programme for cervical cancer and a vaccination which has pretty much eradicated it. The charity I am raising money for is looking into early detection and a vaccine for ovarian cancer.

“I thought if I had my breast, bowel and cervical screens I was pretty much covered. I was not aware of ovarian cancer.

“There is a misconception that a smear test can detect ovarian cancer but it doesn’t. So I think people need to be more aware of ovarian cancer.”