In September/October 2017 I started to have really irregular menstrual bleeding, pain, and horrific bloating. I was studying for a post-graduate diploma at masters level at the time and put it down to stress. I decided to go and see my GP about it in Feb 2018, and luckily I had kept a record of every day that I had a bleed. This was really helpful, and it showed that from October 2017 to February 2018 there was only a total of about 3 weeks when I wasn’t bleeding.
An internal examination showed a large polyp. Bloods were taken and I was referred to a gynaecologist. Everything seemed to take an age. The CA125 blood test came back just within normal limits, so I was referred for an ultrasound scan. Nothing remarkable really. I went back and forth to the GP. In April 2018 I saw a gynae consultant who advised she could remove the polyp and insert a coil which would help reduce my bleeding.
Unfortunately, the polyp was too big to be removed in clinic, and I had to have surgery. I have an allergy to anaesthetic so I met specialist for that too. I had the polyp sent for analysis. I felt dreadful and so I kept returning to the GP. Then, I got a call in early August to come in to the hospital and see a consultant. I thought this was because of problems I had with the coil (bloating bleeding etc). She saw me on her lunch break complete with cup of tea in the relatives room and told me I had STUMP (smooth muscle tumour of uncertain malignant potential) in my womb. I was advised not to look it up.
Eventually, in August 2018 I got a call about an X-ray and urgent CT scan. I had my chest abdomen and pelvis x-rayed on a Thursday and the CT was on the Monday. This was followed by a meeting with the consultant post MDT. I’m a nurse so I knew what this meant.
I met the consultant who advised a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoophrectomy. He apologised profusely for the department losing/missing my pathology. I met an anaesthetist sometime in August/September who told me I had cancer- neither of the gynae consultants told me. I’m assuming they each thought the other had and the anaesthetist quite rightly assumed I knew. But nobody thus far had said those dreaded words “you have cancer”.
I’m trekking the 3 peaks in aid of The Eve Appeal, my reason being that I persevered going to the GP repeatedly and I refused to be told there was nothing wrong. In doing so, my cancer was found and removed, and I want to raise awareness so that no one else has a similar story to mine.
Myself and my friend Victoria go out walking in the hills behind my house to train. We go hill walking at weekends and for long flat walks too. Victoria is a runner and is super fit, but a lot of hard work has gone into this.
I’m nervous about finishing it but hopeful- doing it with other people, rather than doing it on your own, means that you pick up on other people’s enthusiasm and there is great morale and team spirit! It’ll be a really supportive atmosphere. For the vast majority of people, just like me, they are doing it for specific reasons, which keeps us all going. You are distracted by the camaraderie and chats. I am really looking for to it.
I hope by being involved with the charity, and speaking up about my story, other women will be encouraged to persevere with doctors if they need to and not have the horrific experience I did. Not many people knew what it was when I started fundraising, and it was great to make people more aware of it.
You can support Fran with her trek by donating on her JustGiving page today.