The worst mistake I have ever made was to have the treatment that the head of the MDT deemed I had to have because they had found a few cells in the cavity wash after the hysterectomy.
The possibility (certainty) that I would be left with long term side effects was never explained to me and I felt pressured into having the treatment.
Since starting WCSUK in 2011 one of my aims has been to empower women to ask questions and keep asking until they get answers that they understand or feel comfortable with.
I talk a lot about the health issues I have as a result of my treatment to highlight how we are often gaslit into believing that we should just do as we are told and listen to the medics as "they know best".
Over the years I have been accused many times of scaring some women who might be about to start their treatment journey but if it makes them stop and think for a while and ask questions then I feel its worth it.
No-one wants cancer, and no-one wants to think that they haven't done all they could to make sure that it has gone completely but I want every cancer petient to be given full and accurate information about the possibility of long term side effects so they can make an informed decision.
I have said it many times over the past 14 years but had I known then what I know now I would not have had the treatment.
You may think thats its easy for me to say that now but my quality of life has been virtually non existent for many years.
Had I been given all the information before I had the treatment I could have made an informed decision but I wasn't.
I also wasn't strong enough to ask questions which is why I am passionate about empowering others to do what I felt unable to do.
#GiveWombCancerAVoice