Women who mistaken uterine cancer for menopause urged others to check for new symptoms as soon as possible.
Dawn Willis, 58, had been experiencing vaginal bleeding for about a year, but he thought it was a symptom of menopause.
However, when her stomach swelled, her family convinced her to go to the doctor – and she discovers that she was in fact progressing with uterine cancer.
The former teaching assistant is currently speaking out in the hopes of cancer-free, raising awareness and hopefully “saving someone else's life.”
Postmenopausal bleeding is usually not serious, but it can be a sign of cancer.
The main symptoms of uterine cancer include postmenopausal vaginal bleeding or spotting, abnormal periods, vaginal bleeding over time, and changes in vaginal discharge.
“I was very angry with myself when I was diagnosed because I was ignoring my symptoms,” said Willis, from Canterbury, England.
“I thought the bleeding was normal because a lot of things happen to your body during menopause, but then my stomach swelled and my family told me to check out.
“I've been diagnosed with advanced uterine cancer and I'm really happy what they did. If I waited for a few more months, I wouldn't think I'd be here today.
“I'm always the first person to advise you to see a doctor, so I don't know why I left it for so long. I'm so mad at myself for ignoring these signs. Ta.”
After the initial shock of the diagnosis, Dawn's full attention has changed to getting better.
“When they told me it wasn't a terminal, I was like, 'Yes, I'm going to beat this.' I love my life. I love my husband Mark. We've been together since we were 16,” she said.
“I wasn't ready to go anywhere. Cancer was not going to beat me.”
After Willis's initial cancer diagnosis in March 2017, she received a year of treatment.
She was said to be in remission in March 2018 and was officially classified as cancer-free in March 2022.
Following her treatment, Willis suffered from perforated intestines due to serious radiation damage and now lives with Stoma.
But she is still making the most of her life. And he speaks up to encourage others to be checked earlier than later.
“I saved my life so I'm fine with my stoma, but if I was checked earlier, I wouldn't need it,” she said. “So I really just want to spread that message. If something is not right, don't leave it!
“Even though I felt good. I was all I had, but otherwise I felt healthy. Go to the GP and check out.
“If someone sees what I'm saying and thinks, 'I have it, I'll be checked'… If I can save one life, what is that for? . ”
Willis added that he is extremely grateful for the care he received from East Kent Hospital University.
“I was really worried about having to go regularly because I was afraid of the hospital before I got cancer, but I quickly got through it,” she said.
“The only thing I felt was safe and reassuring they were trying to fix me. To the team who saved me and made my cancer journey more positive. I'm very grateful.”
