There had been some post menopausal bleeding at 74 years of age. I had absolutely no idea what womb cancer was! I thought it was related to cervical and ovarian cancer but no other information. I was on furlough, going through redundancy and spent the next four weeks either crying or researching the statistics on the internet to arm myself with anything to fight.
The oncologist called to discuss and it was confirmed that it was aggressive Stage 1B carcinoma. The cancer rollercoaster had begun, endless waiting, date for hysterectomy was August and mam was put on Provera as the cancer was estrogen sensitive to try and keep the cancer at bay. The hysterectomy went well but rather than just having radiotherapy they also said that she would need chemotherapy.
Mam was devastated she would lose her hair, so we went shopping for wigs and when her hair did start to come out she embraced it like a trooper. 6 weeks followed of chemotherapy carboplatin and paclitaxel combination followed by five weeks of 25 radiotherapy treatments. The histology report came back in January 2021 and the wonderful news that there was no trace. We could breath for a bit but it was always there looming in the back of your mind. Any little twinges would cause concern. So we carried on trying to make the most of the days.
Mams hair started growing back curly with lovely chemo curls and she really liked the style. Then October 2021 mam started to have pains in her stomach, she was diagnosed with some sort of stomach flu, given tablets and also a H Pylori test. After a few weeks of suffering with constant pain and sickness I took her to A&E to find out what was happening. Two days went by fighting for a CT scan to then finally be called into a room to be told that the cancer had returned, just utterly devastated that we had to go through it all again!
The nurses and doctors couldn’t believe she was poorly as she looked so well they said but the mood changed when the scan results had come through. It showed ascites around the pelvic area and some spots which we thought were on the liver but unclear. The walk through the hospital corridor was a long one just utter shock and disbelief. The oncologist visit was soon after and it was confirmed that it was recurrence of the lining of the stomach and could be treated not cured. Bizarrely the H Pylori test also came back positive and mam was admitted to hospital on the evening of her 75th Birthday so that they could treat the pains she was experiencing.
I had just recently started a new job and had to take time away to put the brakes on as it was all too much to comprehend and started suffering with extreme anxiety, we weren’t allowed to visit the hospital because of covid restrictions which was extremely difficult. However during this time of reflection, I researched and searched for ways to try and reverse the cancer; contacting organisations later for clinical trials, finding out how mams estrogen sensitive cancer could be managed. I contacted the oncologist and armed with all this knowledge wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Meanwhile mam was having palliative care, district nurses who were amazing coming to their home every day when she came out of hospital to change the syringe driver. A CT scan was called just before her visit to the oncologist on the 1st April this year, I couldn’t go as I had covid and after another round of chemotherapy, carboplatin was cancelled due to low magnesium levels, along with a blood transfusion and magnesium infusion we were concerned about the results.
But here’s the thing the news was really good, the bubbles of cancer that were showing in the lining of the stomach had almost disappeared, there was a slight spot on the kidneys but couldn’t attribute it to cancer and mam was put on hormone therapy Provera (which we fought for) They are now putting her forward for funding for a new drug.
The long term effects of all of this emotionally for mam and the family have been horrendous, the medication has been changed to tablet form to give a better quality of life but the concoction of medication has resulted in agitation and anxiety. You can’t help but feel that you should be delighted with the results but part of you knows that if you let your guard down you may not have the strength to fight on another day.
But fight on we will and will not leave anyone else suffer the turmoil that is caused by cancer so will continue to raise awareness and shout it from the rooftops.