I always attended my cervical screenings; I was never frightened of them at all! However, as a mum of three, I was busy with my daughter, who has autism, so I had put it off for four months this time round.
They found abnormal cells, it was aggressive CGIN Glandular abnormal cells, I had LLETZ treatment and I thought ‘there we go, all fine now’. Six weeks later, the hospital told me that I needed to come in tomorrow and to bring someone with me. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and before my treatment started my best mate and I went on a three-day holiday.
My consultant said I was to have a radical hysterectomy and initially thought that I would be back at work in two weeks. Instead, I woke up as though my whole body was on fire. I had never felt pain like that! It was meant to be numb for 24 hours to aid recovery, but I could feel everything. The spinal block had failed and my writhing around had caused internal bleeding and meant I needed back-to-back transfusions. I was in hospital for eight days.
I went through surgical menopause. No one had prepared me for that. I asked if I could speak to someone about this before the op, the doctor said, ‘I’m here to cure you I’ll refer you after’. I had no idea that I would go straight into menopause.
Seventeen days (about two and a half weeks) after my diagnosis I felt like a lamb to slaughter. In hindsight, when I went into surgery, I should have asked so many more questions!
In surgery I knew they had removed 1/3 of my vaginal canal. Unfortunately, due to the internal bleeding that had pooled inside me the new vaginal cuff had given way and I was leaking fluid like something from a horror film! When the doctor checked the whole swab disappeared! It was very traumatising, but as promised, weeks later it started to knit together. It was four months until I could return to work, but the mental recovery can take much longer than the physical. I now have terrible bladder control but also am living life! I am a glass half full person even more so after cancer.
I hope that by speaking about my diagnosis I will normalise it. One in two of us will get cancer and treatments are so good now!
If you have any questions or concerns about any symptoms you are experiencing or a gynae cancer diagnosis, our Ask Eve nurses can help with free and confidential advice and information on nurse@eveappeal.org.uk or 0808 802 0019.