" I'm 64 years old and my cancer story begins in October 2013. I had gone to Florida for 3 weeks with my husband. After just 2 days there I began to experience right sided pain and discomfort. After a week and no relief from this discomfort I began to think it was something developing, I actually thought it was appendicitis.
I continued with the holiday and returned home 3 weeks later. I went straight to my GP who sent me to get a ca125 blood test as she suspected ovarian cancer!!
The blood test came back at 300; a normal reading should have been around 17!
In the mean time I was sent to hospital for an appointment with a gynaecologist. I was seen and admitted to hospital that day; I was in such pain by this stage.
A radical hysterectomy was arranged promptly and I was eventually diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer. After the surgery the consultant came to see me in intensive care to inform me that I also had stage 1a endometrial cancer too!!!! Although it's rare for this to happen it's not unheard of.
Six months of chemotherapy followed, which brought all kinds of problems too. I also had the misfortune of having my bladder damaged during the surgery and developed a fistula, I had to have two major surgeries to repair it. I'm now in remission and having 6 monthly check ups.
What's really scary is that I'd had very little in the way of symptoms of either cancer so you can imagine my shock at the second diagnosis. My symptoms were really slight pain, which didn't diminish, and just abdominal discomfort for only a few weeks.
I could easily have carried on and dismissed these symptoms and my story could have had a different ending, but I didn't and I shall be forever grateful that my GP was so on the ball and recognised my vague symptoms as cancer.
I'm all for making ladies aware of these dreadful cancers and do not apologise for bombarding my Facebook friends with any cancer awareness posts."
If you would be willing to share your story then please contact me either by using the contact form or emailing me at [email protected]
xx Kaz xx