A woman from has opened up about her struggle after visiting her GP with mild abdominal pain, only to be diagnosed with a severe borderline tumor in her fallopian tube.
Last August, Candice Quinn, 39, went to her doctor with severe gas and abdominal pain.
However, what she hoped was nothing serious turned out to be a cyst containing severe abnormal tumor cells. My London Reports.
“If you are discharged from your GP, get a second opinion. I’m really lucky – I had an amazing GP, she listed it for me,” Candice explained. “Have the confidence to stand up for yourself.”
She is now urging other women to listen to their bodies after the first doctor she saw, a man, failed to take her problem seriously.
“The pandemic has made people feel that symptoms other than Covid are not a priority. I urge women to get checked for unusual symptoms, even if they are mild or moderate. Because if I didn’t go and get checked out for what felt like digestive issues, who knows how bad it would have gotten.”
When Candice woke up after the surgery, she was told that one of her fallopian tubes had to be removed as the cyst was growing inside it, meaning she won’t be able to have any more children.
She needs another operation this month with the surgeon at best removing her left ovary and at worst doing a total hysterectomy that would send her into menopause at 39 right away.
Candice told MyLondon: “Although I already had children, it was all a bit of a shock. Emotionally and psychologically, having to undergo surgery is not great. Running my business and having a family, I can handle that.
“But going through menopause — you hear horror stories about it. Of course, going through menopause means a gradual roll-back of estrogen over time—but it will kick in right away. Instant hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, depression. And then the aftermath of increased health risk, the effects on skin, hair, everything, the brain fog.
“It’s one thing to go through like being 50 when you should assume it, but going through at 39…”
The government recently published its plan to tackle gender inequality in healthcare in England, which focuses on issues such as menopause and medical stigma.
It comes as the government has recently taken steps to increase the accessibility of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a drug that counteracts menopause symptoms.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We understand that menopause symptoms can have a significant impact on the quality of life for some women and we are committed to improving the care and support they receive.
“That’s why we’re developing the first-ever government-led women’s health strategy based on the lived experience of women.
“Menopause, including improving access to hormone replacement therapy, will be a priority under the strategy.”
The government has recently taken steps to improve the drug’s accessibility.
It is not known at this time exactly which HRT product will be part of the proposal.
In October it was announced that the cost of re-prescribing HRT in England would be significantly reduced.
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