‘MY DOCTOR COULDN’T WORK OUT WHAT WAS WRONG’
Rachel Victor-smith, 50, lives in Orpington with her husband Ollie, 43, and they have sons Callum, 23, David, 22, and Jonathan, 20. When I first began experiencing unusual discharge in June 2012, aged 40, I believed it would clear up by itself. Slightly embarrassed by the personal nature of my problem I didn’t even mention it to my husband Ollie, then 33, or any of my closest friends. But by September, I couldn’t ignore it any longer. It hadn’t gone away and, in fact, it was steadily getting worse.
I saw the GP, hoping it would be something that could be cleared up swiftly. Only, the test the GP ran to check for infection came back negative and, despite switching my medication, the unusual discharge continued to get worse.
Weeks later, I booked another GP appointment but she still couldn’t find the source of the problem. Over the next four months, I visited the GP four times, desperate for answers. But with my symptoms classed as non-emergency, I had to wait weeks between appointments and was given the impression it was something I would have to put up with.
Growing more concerned, I busied myself with my job in IT and continued to keep the problem to myself.
Finally, in December 2012, I was referred for an ultrasound and afterwards it was clear the specialist had seen something wrong. ‘Bring your next appointment forward,’ he warned, not telling me anything. Then, in January 2013, I was booked in for a laparoscopy under general anaesthetic, so surgeons could investigate the inside of my abdomen. They uncovered a mass in my fallopian tube and a biopsy revealed it was cancerous.
In excruciating pain from the operation, I could barely process the news. I just wanted to go home and be with my husband and children.
Uncertain future
After a few days in hospital, I was allowed home. But once there, I still found it hard to break the news to my family and friends. I didn’t want to worry them and I knew they would just try to reassure me that everything would be OK. But the truth was, I didn’t know that it would be.
‘You know your body better than anyone’
Telling the children was difficult. I wanted their lives to be changed as little as possible and tried to reassure them as best I could, but it was tough. I was unsure what the future held for me. Away from Ollie and the children, I started searching online for people who had written blogs about having ovarian cancer, trying to find out if they were still alive. I couldn’t stop myself, no matter how distressing it was. I just needed to find out how these strangers’ stories had ended, in case it foretold mine.
At the end of January, my doctor suggested my best option was a complete hysterectomy, where my cervix, womb, ovaries and fallopian tubes were removed, as well as my omentum and lymph nodes. I had barely recovered from the investigative surgery, but soon I was back in the hospital for the life-changing operation. The hysterectomy showed the cancer had spread and I was diagnosed with stage-three ovarian cancer. I stayed in hospital for three days before returning home, where friends and family rallied. I tried to stay upbeat and keep life as normal as possible for my boys, but I had a lot to process.
Next, I began six months of chemotherapy. As I started to lose my long blonde hair, I was devastated, but Ollie carefully shaved my head and I started wearing wigs in public.
Positive stories
When the treatment finished in August 2013, I was told my body was cancer free, but I had to remain on medication for another year. After five years of stressful regular check-ups, doctors still found no further evidence of the disease and the check-ups were no longer needed.
It was such a relief, but I know not everyone has that outcome. That’s why I started fundraising for the charity Target Ovarian Cancer. I had heard about its efforts to educate GPS on the early signs and symptoms.
Nine years on from my diagnosis, recurrence is always at the back of my mind, but I’m thankful there are positive stories out there.
I want to encourage other women to take note of any unusual symptoms and visit their GP. You know your body better than anyone and if you think there’s something wrong, don’t give up on finding the answers.