‘That was a shock to me because I went in thinking there was nothing wrong with me \u2013 my private team had told me there was nothing wrong with me,’ she says.<\/p>\n
Jo was then treated at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust<\/a>, where she underwent a radical hysterectomy followed by ‘super-targeted’ radiotherapy every weekday for six weeks, as well as brachytherapy \u2013 an internal radiotherapy treatment sometimes used for gynaecological cancers.<\/p>\n ‘Thank God I got a second opinion \u2013 I would have been stage 1 if they’d found it [initially], and that’s what guts me,’ she says.<\/p>\n Still, she tries not to dwell on it, instead choosing to focus on raising awareness of gynaecological cancers.<\/p>\n ‘I did my best and I was let down by the first team. But I want to look at the positive and think, actually, I got cared for by an amazing team and couldn’t be in a better place now,’ she adds.<\/p>\n What she wants women to know<\/p>\n Jo’s biggest message is simple: never dismiss bleeding that could be abnormal.<\/p>\n If, like Jo, you’re at an age where you’re unsure what’s normal, it’s always better to get checked. You’re not wasting anybody’s time.<\/p>\n ‘Just don’t hesitate \u2013 don’t hesitate to get advice and get help. It’s put my faith back into the NHS,’ says Jo. ‘Listen to your body and get it checked; don’t give up and always get a second opinion.’<\/p>\n ‘Don’t give up and always get a second opinion’<\/p>\n According to gynaecological cancers charity The Lady Garden Foundation<\/a>, endometrial cancer is most commonly diagnosed in women aged 60-79, with incidence peaking between the ages of 75 and 79.<\/p>\n ‘Cases are rising, but if caught early, womb cancer is very treatable,’ the charity says.<\/p>\n Overall, Cancer Research UK<\/a> estimates around 10,200 women are diagnosed with womb cancer in the UK every year, making it the fourth most common cancer in women.<\/p>\n ‘Keep going until someone listens to you and finds out what’s wrong,’ Jo reiterates. ‘Because if you feel there’s something that isn’t right, normally there is.’<\/p>\n ‘We need to have a better understanding of what happens to our bodies at certain times and that bleeding isn’t [always] normal,’ she adds. ‘I thought it was normal, and it’s not. That’s something I wish I’d known \u2013 that I’d been educated about the warning signs.’<\/p>\n Symptoms of endometrial (womb) cancer<\/p>\n ‘Womb cancer starts in the cells of the womb, or uterus, and most womb cancers begin in the lining of the womb, called the endometrium. This is also known as endometrial cancer,’ explains Mr John Butler, consultant gynaecological oncology surgeon at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and medical director at the Lady Garden Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n ‘The most common symptom of womb cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding, particularly in women who have been through the menopause<\/a> and have stopped having periods.’<\/p>\n Other symptoms include:<\/p>\n Pain or discomfort in the lower abdomenPain during sexChanges in vaginal dischargeLoss of appetite and weightTiredness or weaknessFeeling or being sickConstipationFeeling breathlessPassing urine more often than usualGynaecological cancers: know what’s normal for you<\/p>\n ‘More than 21,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer \u2013 ovarian, cervical, womb, vaginal or vulval<\/a> \u2013 every year. However, awareness of their signs and symptoms remains low,’ says Mr Butler.<\/p>\n ‘It’s vital that women of all ages get to know their bodies and understand what to look out for because the earlier a cancer is found, the easier it is to treat and the greater the chance of successful treatment. We know there can be fear and embarrassment around gynaecological health, but we must talk more openly.’<\/p>\n While September marks Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, these conversations need to continue all year round.<\/p>\n ‘Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge is common across many gynaecological cancers, but there are other symptoms to be aware of too, including abdominal bloating, pelvic pain and needing to urinate more frequently,’ Mr Butler says.<\/p>\n ‘These symptoms are more often than not caused by something other than cancer, which means gynaecological cancers can sometimes be overlooked. That’s why it’s so important to get anything unusual for you that persists checked by your GP.’<\/p>\n
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