A mum-of-three has urged others to get any unusual symptoms checked out by medical professionals after she was diagnosed with kidney cancer.
Kate Richards, who lives in Ponteland, initially thought she had a UTI when she noticed blood in her urine.
But after checking with her GP and having a scan to be on the safe side, Kate, aged 37 at the time, was called into the Freeman Hospital during the coronavirus lockdown and told she had a large, 12cm tumour on her left kidney.
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Fortunately, after surgery Kate, who is mum to three boys aged four, seven, and nine, is now cancer-free, and is now raising awareness of the disease.
She said: "I thought I had a UTI so I self-referred to the GP to get antibiotics, but I didn't show any signs of infection.
"I had an ultrasound just to be on the safe side and I didn't think anything of it, I thought it would be kidney stones.
"They called me in and told me they had found a 12cm tumour on my left kidney. I had a CT scan to see if it was cancerous, but regardless they have to take it out.
"They operated on me to remove the whole of my kidney. I was really really lucky because I didn't have any spread.
"I didn't expect it at all. I'm relatively fit and healthy and I'm only 39, so it was a bit of a shock. I don't know of any family history of kidney cancer, so it wasn't something I was looking for."
Kidney cancer usually affects older people, with the main symptoms being blood in urine and pain in the lower back. It generally affects more women than men.
Kate was also quick to heap praise on NHS staff at the Freeman Hospital.
She said: "It's a bit scary, but the staff at the Freeman were amazing. I was really scared and it was a weird time with everyone wearing masks, but they were really kind and patient.
"My husband, David, had dropped me off and they offered to talk to him too. The support to me and him was brilliant."
Kate also urged people to get any medical issues checked out, no matter how small they seemed.
She added: "It has encouraged my friends and family, if they've got something a bit untoward, get it checked out."
Aside from regular check-ups, Kate is now cancer and treatment free and plans to run the Great North Run this year in aid of Kidney Cancer UK.
Having already completed the half-marathon twice, Kate began exercising again just six weeks after her surgery.
She added: "It's like having a child - you allow your body to recover and then build it back up gradually.
"I'm excited for the Great North Run, but a bit nervous because I'm not the fastest - but the good thing about the Great North Run is it's all about the atmosphere."
In addition, Gateshead Council will be lighting up the Millennium Bridge up in green on February 11, as part of 2022 Kidney Cancer Awareness Week - much to the delight of Kate, who works on the Quayside in Newcastle.
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