A woman treated for ovarian cancer at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust is urging others to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease.
Christine Grant, 68, from Trowbridge, went to her GP after finding she was having to get up frequently during the night to urinate.
At first, it was thought the problem could be linked to her age and an oversensitive bladder. But Christine then began struggling to go to the toilet and thought she might have cystitis, before her GP recommended an ultrasound scan.
The scan revealed a mass in her pelvis and a biopsy later confirmed she had ovarian cancer.
Speaking during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Christine said, “The news that it was cancer was devastating, but I already had a bad feeling that was what it would be. My daughter is a medic and she had done her best to prepare me for the news.
“I got the diagnosis in the summer and really thought I might not make it to Christmas. But once I met with the consultant at the RUH I felt much more positive. She was fantastic and spoke very honestly with me, but gave me a lot of hope too.”
Christine began chemotherapy straight away, followed by surgery for a full hysterectomy. She then signed up to a research trial at the RUH and received immunotherapy treatment, involving an infusion every three weeks.
Christine said, “It has been very tough at times, but I’m in remission now which is just fantastic. The care and support I received at the RUH was excellent. Everyone has been so caring.
“My message to women is to make sure you get checked as soon as something doesn’t feel right. It might be nothing, but it is always better to know and finding a problem early means it is more treatable.”
According to the NHS, the main symptoms of ovarian cancer include a swollen tummy or feeling bloated, pain or tenderness in the tummy or pelvic area, loss of appetite or feeling full quickly, and needing to pee more often or more urgently.
Ovarian cancer mostly affects women over 50, although it can affect anyone with ovaries. Around 7,400 women are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year.
You can find lots more information and advice, as well as where to go for help and support, on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovarian-cancer/
