Lynn’s journey
“I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in January 2023. I was devastated just by the word cancer, as I think we all are when we hear it”
When I was 50 years old, I started my menopause - that age was sort of normal I guessed. One last period after my birthday and that was it. It was going great. I had none or very little issues in the beginning and as time progressed I got the usual dryness, hot flushes etc., nothing different from everyone else that I spoke to around my age.
Then at the age of 54 I had what looked like a “show”. A little bit of blood but really just a drop; it was there when I wiped myself and nothing more. I went to my GP who referred me to the Post Menopausal Bleeding Clinic at Tameside Hospital. They were excellent with me, explaining that any bleeding isn’t normal for ladies in menopause. So after a full exam, they informed me that my uterus wall was thinning and that I needed a pessary inserted once a day for 2 weeks to help ease and balance my lining out.
It worked. I saw nothing for about 4 years. But then it happened again. I returned to the clinic where I was told the lining was thin. I was prescribed pessaries again and again it worked. For around 3 years I saw nothing but then it happened again.
This time I saw someone privately but they told me the same thing, that my uterus was thin. I was told I could use the pessaries twice a week forever - I used them for another 2 years and all was ok.
At the end of November 2022 I was getting out of my car when I felt a whoosh of liquid just empty from my pubic area. It was all down my legs and on the floor; it just wouldn’t stop. During that night I felt a few ‘whooshes’ happening but it had no smell. It was like clear thin gel, like shiny water only a bit thicker but clear. I went to see my nurse at the GP who sent me to Preston to have another ultrasound examination but this time I was told that my uterus lining was thick.
On further examination they found a polyp and they tried, unsuccessfully, to get it out. They also did a biopsy. This was on Christmas Eve 2022.
I then received a telephone call in January 2023 telling me that they had found cancer.
I was asked to see a specialist at the Preston Royal Hospital in the Gynae Department. I met with Dr Angelika Kaufmann who explained to me what my next step was.
After seeing Dr Angelika, I was informed that I needed a total hysterectomy.
I had my procedure 4 weeks later. They told me it was all contained and that there was no need to remove any lymph nodes. It was graded Stage 1 Grade 1A and no further treatment was required. It was contained and the polyp was covered in that jelly type substance.
The relief was immense. I cried. I was so very lucky.
I do think about it each and every day, how women have this silent killer lurking. My daughter is 51 and she says if she was given a choice to reduce her chances of getting cancer she would have a total hysterectomy in a heartbeat - I think maybe this is something she might opt to have.
I’m still with the Macmillan team who are there if I need them - which I’m really grateful for.
