The story of Amy
After years of going to the doctors in agony with tummy pains I decided after I had my third child (and left enough time so they wouldn’t say it was due to my recent pregnancy) to see the doctor again to see if there was anything they could do.
So in September 2014, I went to my local GP saying I think I have another cyst on my ovaries as I was in agony and she said that women get cysts and the time and wrote me a prescription for IBS Relief Capsules.
Not content on this diagnosis and still being in pain I went back to my local surgery a few weeks later and saw different GP (other GP’s husband) and demanded that I have a scan as I believed I had a cyst on my ovaries. He subsequently organised this for me.
In November 2014 I went for an ultrasound, where it was discovered I did have a cyst on my left ovary. The Sonogropher believed the cyst to be a Dermoid cyst. That evening, my GP phoned me and told me I had an abnormal cyst and referred me to a specialist.
In January 2015, I saw the Gynecologist Specialist who said the cyst was possibly a Dermoid cyst but not that causing pain. He suggested that the pain maybe down to Endometriosis and he put me on the Contraceptive Pill for 3 months to determine whether this was the case or not and if it would stop the pain.
In February 2015 I had another ultrasound and soon afterwards I contacted the hospital as I was still in agony and the contraceptive pill wasn’t working. They brought forward my next appointment to March 2015 (was originally mid April 2015) where I was told my cyst had grown and they arranged for to have Laparoscopy to remove it.
In April 2015 I went in for the Laparoscopy which turned out to be Mini-Laparotomy where they removed the Cyst and also my Left Ovary and Fallopian Tube. I was back home the next day.
Two weeks later after three 111 calls and visits to Out of Hours, I ended back in hospital for a week with two severe infections.
During that week I was taken to see my specialist where I was hoping to find out what they had found in my cyst but was told without presence of my husband the devastating news that I had been diagnosed with a Rare Ovarian Small Cell Carcinoma (Pulmonary Type) which came as a complete shock. I then had to break news to my family.
Shortly afterwards I had a PET scan and then in June 2015 I started my first round of Chemotherapy. Within 2 weeks of my 1st round of Chemotherapy, I started losing my hair and then made the brave decision to shave all my hair off.
I had four rounds of chemo from June to September 2015 and when I went in for my 4th round of Chemotherapy at the end of September 2015, I was told I didn’t have to have it or any further rounds but would have further check ups and CT scans to monitor my check ups.
After CT Scan in November 2015 and MRI Scan in December 2015 hey found more cysts on my remaining ovary. I was advised to remove ovary, which was done at the end of December 2015.
Thankfully the cysts were benign and after seeing the Gynecologist for a follow up appointment, I then sought clarification from my oncologist who confirmed I was in full remission although there is a risk of recurrence.
I wanted to make people aware of what I have been through and give people hope that this can be fought and beaten.I have set up Facebook Page (Wombles Small Cell Ovarian Cancer Fight + Awareness) to spread awareness of this rare type of cancer.