How my Cancer's began

I was diagosed with Ovarian cancer in November 2006. I'd been having very heavy periods and been diagnosed as having Endometriosis

After many tests they decided to give me a Endoscopy,unfortunately or fortunately as the case may be!
Because i've never had children, my cervix was very high up and without having a general anaesthetic the doctor said i would have had lots of pain.

On waking up i was told they couldn't get the camera in but that my uterus was the size of a 20 week old fetus and that i was "riddled" with fibroids.
I'd most definately need a hysterectomy.


A few days later i got a call from the hospital, they asked me to go and see them. Off i went, expecting to be told a date for my operation.. I drove straight from work to a different town.

On getting there i was asked if i was alone and did i mind if the nurse came in with me to see the Dr. I presumed she was training as i've had a few student nurses sitting in on my consultations.

The Dr told me that while i was under anaesthetic a few days earlier, when the camera couldnt be inserted, The Dr had decided to do a biopsy.
Unfortunately it had come back that i had cancer, but by this time the ovarian cancer was the only one detected.I do not remember driving back to work, it was all such a blur.
I'm so pleased she did the biopsy..

I had a total Hysterectomy and a Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy

When i came round from the operation i discovered i had a 7 inch scar going from just under my naval down to my pubic bone and 14 metal stitches.
When my consultant came to see me to let me know how the operation had gone, he told me that my left ovary had burst as he tried to cut it out as the skin was so thin and also that i was one in not many women to have 2 types of cancer going on in the same area as i also had Endometrial Cancer.

I had 6 sessions of Chemotherapy lasting 8 hours each time and at 3 week intervals. I also had 2 x 10 hour sessions of internal radiotherapy too, this was because of the  Endometrial 
Cancer and a precautionary measure due to my left ovary exploding!

The Chemo i was on was Taxol & Carboplatin


I've had surgery again in December 2008, this time for a hernia which was right under my 7 inch scar from my hysterectomy!!
I had keyhole surgery and all seems ok.
I still have weepy days...i still faint a lot! but in all i'm still bonkers.
I now visit my Oncologist every 6 months and see him next on the 20th October.

Thanks to all the wonderful friends i've met on here... I'm keeping laughing too

Over and out

Cervical Cancer. The Stages:

A DIAGNOSIS is devastating. But there are effective treatment to kill the cancer cells and stop them spreading.
Cancer Research UK says the best treatment for you will depend on the stage of the cancer.

Stage 1 - the cancer is just in the cervix.

The usual treatment is surgery or radiotherapy. But if the cancer is larger than 4cm, your specialist may advise you to have a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Stage 2 - the cancer has begun to spread around the cervix

If the spread is downwards towards the vagina, then the usual treatment is surgery or radiotherapy or both. If the spread is mostly upwards into the womb, then research shows that a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy is best.

Stage 3 - the cancer has spread into the pelvis

In stage 3, the cancer has spread away from the area surrounding the cervix, such as into the lower vagina, the muscles of the pelvis, or upwards towards the ureters (they join the kidneys to the bladder). This stage is usually treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, because research shows that this combination can give the best success rate.

Stage 4 - the cancer has spread into other body organs

This stage is more advanced because there is secondary cancer in other organs, either in the pelvis, or further afield like the lungs. It’s treated with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these treatments, depending on where the secondary cancers are.


Having radiotherapy for cervical cancer


Radiotherapy can be given externally with a beam of rays focussed on the cancer. It can also be given internally, when a small radio-active source is inserted up the vagina and into the uterus (womb). Sometimes, both methods are used.


Radiotherapy is often very successful in treating cervical cancer. However, you should be aware that you won’t be able to become pregnant afterwards.


For more info, see cancer help.org .

I had radiotherapy internally, 2 x 10 hours worth as i had stage1. I knew i had Ovarian Cancer, but it wasn't until i came round from my hysterectomy operation that my Consultant informed me that he'd also found Cervical Cancer down there too and this is why i would need the internal radiotherapy.