Thank you

My consultant called this week and said they’d found no further signs of cancer in the histology following my hysterectomy and bilateral whatsit six weeks ago. 

I just wanted to give a quick overview of my experience for anyone who is going though similar, and most of all to say thank you to Macmillan champion Jane and all you generous, compassionate women who took the time to give me support and advice and to share your own experience. 

I went to the GP on 11 December with a post-menopausal bleed and was put on the two-week urgent pathway. I wasn’t too worried as this was the third time I’d had a bleed in four years. The first time I’d had a vaginal scan and a hysteroscopy (under sedation) which confirmed lots of fibroids. I’d been diagnosed with these 20 years before and had had two fibroid embolisation treatments to shrink them, four years apart, as I hadn’t wanted a hysterectomy. The second bleed came after I’d missed three weeks of my progesterone tablets after a national shortage and a holiday, and the gynaecologist agreed that was probably the cause. A scan showed too many fibroids to see the lining properly but she didn’t think there was cause for concern. 

So on 4 Jan this year I had a hysteroscopy that identified a large polyp and I was told I’d need a second hysteroscopy to remove it. I didn’t hear from the hospital (Liverpool Women’s) for weeks and a nurse friend told me to chase them. Eventually I was given a second date of 19 March. 

On 14 April a CNS rang me to say they’d found cancer in the polyp and I would need an MRI to establish the grade and stage. She said this would be in a week or two followed by a meeting with a consultant in another week or two. In the end the MRI date wasn’t until three and a bit weeks later. This brought me really close to the start date of a long-planned Disneyworld holiday I didn’t want to cancel. The same nurse said I shouldn’t go as it was a full-on holiday and also that there was an increased risk of blood clots on the flight.

Thanks to the extremely helpful advice on this forum I didn’t cancel the trip. The MRI results came back four days before we flew but not in time to be discussed at the MDT meeting the day after. The nurse told me the cancer was a predicted grade 1, stage 1.

I spoke to our travel insurers. I got my GP to do a full blood count including a clotting test (ironically this was the one test that was inconclusive as the nurse didn’t take enough blood for the sample) and spent the 9-hour flight walking the aisles in my compression socks, stretching and drinking water by the gallon. We had a fantastic family holiday where I barely thought about having cancer. 

While we were away I got a text to say my appointment with the consultant would be eleven days after our return, June 11. At this he told me I’d need an abdominal hysterectomy because of the large size of my fibroids, but after he examined me revised this to say he would attempt keyhole with one larger vertical incision to get the womb and ovaries out. This is what he did, so I have four tiny scars and a three-inch vertical scar from my belly button. 

My op date came through as 10 July, so seven and a half months after I was put on the urgent pathway. I was in hospital for one night though offered a second night if I wanted (I didn’t). I had very little pain when I got home and started short walks with my husband and the dog the next day. I was amazed at how quickly I recovered, especially compared to an abdominal gallbladder removal in my late 30s. I did get tired if I did a lot, and a couple of times needed a nap in the afternoon. I had many interesting novels to read but ended up watching all six series of Downton Abbey instead. My husband drove us to a family wedding a seven-hour drive away by week four and a week after that I drove to Stratford-upon-Avon for a couple of days.

I’m glad I didn’t need further treatment but am aware cancer might come back, so am treasuring time with my loved ones and trying to make the most of each day.