by Mary Green
I’ve been reminded recently that health is something many of us take for granted, until something goes wrong.
So, I’d just had a lovely Christmas eating my own body weight in chocolate and enthusiastically imbibed the usual bizarre and very seasonal combination of mulled wine, Baileys, and some weird lychee liqueur someone had given me, when I got a bit of an achy belly.
Thinking to myself that a bit of a New Year MOT wouldn’t do any harm, I booked myself in for some blood tests. They came back saying my kidney function was not good. It escalated quickly; the doctor poked at my tummy which I explained was normally that round, but for some reason she wanted me to get an ultrasound scan.
I was still oblivious although in retrospect she had started to look strangely concerned. It was the week in between Christmas and New Year so I wasn’t expecting an appointment. Two days later I got a letter asking me to go to the hospital. Walking through the silent hospital, still with heavy covid restrictions in place, I started to get a little bit worried.
The appointment was more extensive that I had anticipated, but the nurse told me that my kidneys were fine and that I was likely just dehydrated from having covid just before Christmas. Then she followed that up by saying that there was a lump and that I should go back to see the doctor who would explain further. Not after New Year, NOW.
The doctor was not reassuring and finally told me that she thought I needed to be seen by the cancer team at the hospital and that if I hadn’t heard anything in two weeks to come back.
New Year’s Eve was as you can imagine; much more strained than planned. Filled with panic I finally got the appointment and was given all clear. I am now on a waiting list to have a benign, but tennis ball sized cyst removed. I am uncomfortable at times; but hugely grateful to have been given the all clear and discharged from the cancer clinic.
The moral of the story, get checked if you are worried, ask questions and check your symptoms. Also do talk to your financial planner about suitable protection policies and saving plans so that if you have health troubles you can focus on getting well not worrying about your finances.
The signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:
Abdominal bloating or swelling
Quickly feeling full when eating
Weight loss
Discomfort in the pelvic area
Fatigue
Back pain
A frequent need to urinate
Further information about Ovarian Cancer: https://www.therobincancertrust.org/
Information on Cancer signs and symptoms if you are concerned: Pre-Diagnosis, Signs & Symptoms | Cancer Chat (cancerresearchuk.org)
For those who have received a Cancer diagnosis https://www.maggies.org/
