**Woman Overcomes Teenage Alcoholism Only to Face New Battle with Terminal Cancer**
A London woman who spent nearly two decades battling alcoholism from the age of 14 has revealed the cruel twist of fate that followed her hard-won sobriety: a diagnosis of incurable brain cancer at just 37.
Abi, who has openly shared her struggles with addiction, began her relationship with alcohol as a teenager – initially sneaking vodka into her morning tea to hide her drinking from those around her. Driven by unresolved trauma after the loss of her father to suicide at a young age, Abi found herself increasingly dependent on alcohol to numb her pain and mask her mental health difficulties.
Reflecting on those formative years, Abi describes how her need for substances intensified as her mental state deteriorated. “Being alive and being me was too painful, so I didn’t let myself sober up,” she explained. Her dependency led her to consume as much as two 700ml bottles of spirits and up to eight beers each day at her lowest point, with bottles stashed around her bedroom.
After years of self-destructive habits, the pandemic brought a turning point. Returning to her childhood home for lockdown in 2020, Abi was confronted by the familiar pattern of hiding bottles under her bed – a cycle reminiscent of her teenage years. That moment served as an emotional wake-up call. She determined to face her dependency head-on, pushing through a terrifying five-day withdrawal that left her bedridden, hallucinating, and grateful to have avoided more severe complications such as seizures.
Abi’s commitment to her sobriety saw her remain alcohol-free for four years, even as she wrestled with feelings of isolation and the challenges of rebuilding her life. During that time, she recognised that alcohol had stripped away opportunities for meaningful relationships and stability. “I was always hungover, or on the way to the next hangover. I became irrational, argumentative – it’s very difficult to live harmoniously in a relationship because you’re so erratic; you’re drunk,” she admitted.
However, just as Abi was beginning to rebuild her life and health, another ordeal loomed. In October 2023, she began to notice persistent headaches, nausea, and episodes of brain fog. Initially dismissing these as side effects of caffeine withdrawal, she continued on – only to be diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour months later, in June 2024. Specialists have since given her an estimated 15 years to live, although Abi is determined not to let the prognosis define her.
Despite the devastating news, Abi reflects with a sense of gratitude for having faced her diagnosis sober. “I thought, ‘thank god I’m dealing with this sober.’ I wouldn’t be able to deal with cancer if I was still drinking,” she said, crediting her previous self for the strength she now relies upon. She has since undergone two brain surgeries as well as rounds of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in an effort to prolong her life.
Abi’s journey has not been without its lowest moments. After relocating to Canada in 2019, her addiction spiralled further, resulting in hospitalisation and job loss before she ultimately returned home to Berkshire. It was in this familiar environment that the reality of her addiction hit hardest, leading her to seek change at last.
Now living “one day at a time” with a terminal condition, Abi’s outlook on life has changed dramatically. “I’m very grateful for the life I have – every day I’m filled with gratitude,” she says. Facing her own mortality has brought a renewed appreciation for the good in her life, and she is determined not to waste another moment.
Abi’s story is a poignant example of resilience, transformation, and the unpredictable turns life can take. Through her candour, she offers encouragement to others facing addiction and serious illness, proving that – even in the darkest circumstances – hope and gratitude can endure.