I was diagnosed with womb cancer (also known as uterine cancer, or endometrial cancer) on 23rd Dec 2009.
I had a hysterectomy in late Jan 2010 and started my chemotherapy 4 weeks later and followed that with 5 weeks of external radiotherapy. My treatment ended in July 2010, 1 week before my 47th Birthday.
To say I’ve been on a roller coaster is an understatement. I am still coming to terms with it all.
My diagnosis came as a complete shock as I thought I was having the hysterectomy for large fibroids that had been causing very heavy bleeding, which resulted in me being admitted to hospital 6 months previously with severe anaemia and water retention. I was in hospital for 2 weeks and had 6 units of blood and lost almost 8 stone – most of it fluid. I came out of hospital feeling better than I had in years. It was then that I was told that I had fibroids after an ultrasound scan picked them up. A later MRI scan picked up the cancer and then my journey with womb cancer began.
The treatment was hard and left me physically and mentally unwell.
It will be 4 years in July since I finished my treatment and I can’t say that its been an easy ride. The treatment has left me with long term side effects that severely affect my quality of life. I have lymphedema in both legs; I have been diagnosed with an under-active thyroid; I have bowel adhesions from the radiotherapy; I also have an epi-gastric hernia that they won’t operate on because of the adhesions; plus I have long term cognitive and memory problems and fatigue.
I don’t regard myself as a cancer survivor, just like I didn’t regard myself as a cancer warrior. I took each day as it came, just like I do now. Some days are better than others – many are much worse!
It became apparent when I was going through my cancer journey that there was very little awareness here in the UK about womb cancer so in April 2011 I set up Womb Cancer Support UK, which is the only dedicated womb cancer organisation in UK.
As well as providing support to women going through this cancer we also raise awareness – womb cancer is the 4th most common cancer amongst women here in the UK but there is very little awareness of it, unlike other female cancers like cervical or ovarian.
Womb Cancer Support UK is happy to support Globe-athon in its work to raise awareness of gynea cancers. Together we are stronger.
– Kaz Malloy
