Debbie’s warning – act now if you’re worried about ovarian cancer | News

March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and the campaign is an important one as it highlights a difficult to diagnose disease. 

Ovarian cancer is often misdiagnosed, or diagnosed at a late stage, because symptoms can be vague and overlap with other conditions. 

Unlike breast or cervical cancer, there isn’t a reliable screening test for ovarian cancer in the UK.

Debbie McPhie, a Royal Surrey patient who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last February after experiencing a year of niggling pains and abdominal discomfort that she put down to the menopause, has this message for others:

“If you’re worrying about uncertain niggles and things that don’t feel right, don’t ignore them or put up with them. You know your body better than anyone. See your GP and get to the bottom of it. Don’t ever feel that you’re wasting your GP’s time with something trivial.” 

Debbie, 57, contacted her GP when she started getting stomach pains two years ago. “I had a sort of dragging feeling low down in my stomach, a bit like period pains. They weren’t painful but more debilitating and I definitely felt that something wasn’t right.

“I then saw a private consultant but they didn’t think that my symptoms warranted any further investigations. Looking back now, I realise that things weren’t right at all, but at the time it was easy just to make excuses for what I was experiencing. For instance, I couldn’t lie on my stomach or tie my shoelaces without discomfort but I kept putting it down to my middle aged spread or the menopause. 

“A year later, I was still having the same problems and feeling unwell, so I decided to go back to my GP. This time I was very clear that I was really worried about myself and I didn’t think it was the menopause causing the problems.

“I was referred to a gynaecologist and had more scans but they came back all clear. I also had a blood test that showed slightly raised levels of CA125. The test was repeated a couple of weeks later and again the levels were raised but the consultant explained that other things, such as my diverticulitis, could cause this.

“There was then a gap of about six weeks before I had the test again, and this time the level had shot up. After the test results came back I had another scan, but again it was all clear. Shortly after that I started experiencing bowel pain while on the loo and was referred for a colonoscopy to investigate.

“The results of the colonoscopy showed no issues but two days later the bowel pain really increased and my consultant called me back for a CT contrast dye scan. It was then that the Grade 3 tumour on my ovary was revealed.”

Royal Surrey Consultant Oncologist, Professor Agnieszka Michael, said: “Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose and symptoms, such as persistent bloating, abdominal pain, change in urination or bowel habits overlap with other less serious conditions. We don’t know what causes this cancer but the risk increases over the age of 50, particularly in those who have gone through the menopause. Other risk factors include having a family history of ovarian or breast cancer, certain genetic mutations, and never having been pregnant.”

After Debbie received her diagnosis, she underwent a major six hour operation, which involved a hysterectomy, removal of her appendix and part of her bowel. Following her recovery from the operation, she received a course of chemotherapy. 

Debbie said: “In a way it was a relief to have the operation and then to have the chemotherapy treatment. I felt less anxious because I was being treated and I was incredibly well looked after by the teams at Royal Surrey, my care has been exceptional. 

“After my operation, I spent two days in Intensive Care, another week on a ward, and I’ve been back to the Emergency Department a few times. Each time the staff have been brilliant, helpful, kind and reassuring. The oncology team who look after me are patient, great at offering support, answering questions and giving advice. 

“For me, one way of coping with worry is to put myself in the experts’ hands and trust that they are doing the best for me and the staff at Royal Surrey who look after me have definitely made this easy to do.

“I would like to say a special thank you to the gynaecological surgical team, (Mr Taylor, Clinical Nurse Specialist Natalie and Dr Arkin in particular) and the Oncology Team (Professor Michael, CNSs Fiona and Sarah).”