From Well To Hell.

I've been offline for a few days due to ongoing technical problems, but today's post is one woman's womb cancer story and all I have to do is copy and paste, so here goes!

'I was bobbing along through life, minding my own business, when a few years ago I found myself turning fifty. It was only a number, it held no fear for me, no worries or concerns, I could do this. After all it was just another day, not so different from the one before or the one I was confident would follow.

I'd lived a clean life - non-smoker, teetotal, my only drug use being an occasional paracetamol tablet. Not meaning to sound vain, but I looked pretty good, I felt good and if I ever thought of death at all, it was only in the context that I wasn't looking to be facing it any time soon. My one concession to getting older was reading glasses - contact lenses weren't for me as I couldn't stand the thought of poking around with my eyes. I figured I'd got pretty good genes and I was grateful. As far as I was concerned all was well, but I went from well to hell in only a few months because I didn't know the lining of my womb - something I thought I was losing every month - could become cancerous.

I wasn't aware that starting my periods at an early age and not yet having reached the menopause were both putting me at risk of womb cancer, and nor did I realise that a negative smear test result didn't mean I was ok. I didn't know that breast cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical cancer weren't the only women's cancers I should look out for signs of. And the reason I didn't know any of these things was because there had never been a womb cancer awareness campaign in the UK. Not once.

I thought the initial minor changes to my periods were due to my age; I thought that the 'hot flushes' were due to hormone changes. I didn't realise I had a cancer that would mean losing my womb, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes. That would put me firmly in menopause before I was ready to accept it. That would lead me to question my femininity and what it means to be a woman. That would take months, even years, of my life to recover from. That would leave me with side-effects and an ongoing sense of uncertainty about the future. And I'm one of the lucky ones. 

Don't just be breast aware, and don't simply take a negative smear test result at face value, be womb aware too. And make sure your female friends and relatives are also all womb aware, because finding womb cancer early could save your life and/or theirs.'

If you have a womb cancer story you'd like to share then please let me know.

Love Rose x

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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

I mentioned a few posts back about the link between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and the risk of developing womb cancer.

If you've been diagnosed with PCOS then you might want to take a look at the following UK website for help and advice:

Home | Verity - PCOS Charity

www.verity-pcos.org.uk

Verity - the UK charity for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Verity is a registered UK charity support group run by women with PCOS for women with PCOS. The following page on their website sets out the long-term health risks from PCOS, including Type 2 diabetes which is also a known risk factor for womb cancer:

Long term health | Verity - PCOS Charity

www.verity-pcos.org.uk

Verity

Love Rose x

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"Peachy Too" T-Shirts & Hoodies by DParry | Redbubble

 © Copyright Annette Parry

"Peachy Too" T-Shirts & Hoodies by DParry | Redbubble:

This t-shirt is the lastest design created especially to raise funds for womb cancer research. It's available to buy in various sizes, colours and styles from RedBubble. There is also a design of a single, large peach if preferred. Both designs can be bought as stickers too. As well as t-shirts and hoodies, there's also a range of specially designed Christmas cards. All profits from sales are donated to research into the genetic causes of womb cancer in women aged 40 and under.

If you're looking for gifts and cards then buying from this RedBubble store can help fundraise for womb cancer research and also help raise awareness of womb cancer. Why not take a look.

Love Rose x

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Recovery Takes Time.

I hope this finds you all in good spirits; my apologies that I wasn't able to post yesterday. Today has been a day for chores - a feat in itself, as it's taken time to recover physical strength and stamina since surgery in 2010.

Doctors seem to underestimate how long recovery can be. I was told up to 12 weeks off work post-op and expect to be tired for the first four months. In reality, it took me just over two years to feel almost human again. Summer this year was the most well I'd felt in a long time, so I was disappointed to be hit by colds during September into October and the recent fatigue which is, thankfully, now on the wane. On the whole I feel well and long may it continue!

It's early evening here in the UK so I'm off to relax. Have fun wherever you are!

Love Rose x


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Aging Gratefully.

I don’t know how other people who've come through cancer generally feel on the subject of birthdays, but since my womb cancer diagnosis back in 2010 I've had a healthy respect for getting older. I've been through three birthdays since my main surgery that same year - I only have one a year in case you’re wondering! – and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for many more.

If you’re reading this and it’s your birthday today, then happy birthday! Joyeux anniversaire! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! Penblwydd Hapus! Feliz Cumpleaños! Feliz aniversário! Enjoy your day, whatever language you're celebrating in.

Love Rose x

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We Need A Womb Cancer Charity!

In the UK there is no charity dedicated solely to womb cancer, but there is a petition pushing for one to be set up. If you've not already done so, please will you sign the petition to help it reach - or even surpass! - its target of 1900 signatures; one for every death from womb cancer in the UK each year:

We Need A Womb Cancer Charity!

www.petitionbuzz.com

'We the undersigned call for the setting up of a dedicated national womb cancer charity to be at the forefront of awareness campaigning, early diagnosis and medical research.' ...

Many thanks!

Love Rose x


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Womb Cancer Signs and Risk Factors.

Tonight I'd like to share with you a leaflet from Womb Cancer Support UK (WCSUK). This leaflet lists some signs to look out for with regard to possible womb/endometrial/uterine cancer, also some of the possible risk factors for developing womb cancer:

Please click on leaflet to enlarge.

As well as the signs listed above, any unusual discharge, spotting or bleeding after menopause should be reported to your Doctor/General Practitioner (GP) for further investigation; painful intercourse, bleeding after intercourse, a frequent need to empty the bladder - or difficulty doing so - should be reported both before and after menopause.

As well as the risk factors listed above, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is also considered a risk factor for womb cancer.

Please remember that pap/smear tests are designed to detect changes in the cells of the cervix rather than cells higher up in the womb cavity itself, so a negative smear test result does not rule out womb cancer. If abnormal symptoms persist after a negative smear test result, please ask for further checks to rule out the possibility of womb cancer.

Please remember that the information in my blog is not intended or implied to be a substitute for medical advice - please always consult your Doctor/healthcare provider.

Love Rose x

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