A Cambridge woman, who beat breast cancer and is now battling ovarian cancer, is speaking out to support others fighting the UK’s deadliest gynaecological cancer.
Pauline Caller, 79, from Cambridge, was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in the early 1990s, around the age of 51.
As a result of this she had part of her breast removed and was put on medication.
But in February 2018 she was given the news that she had again been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which can sometimes be linked to breast cancer.
“If I had known then what I know now, I would have had my ovaries and uterus removed because I don’t need them. They’ve just gone on to give me trouble,” she said.
Research shows many women mistakenly feel they are ‘protected’ against ovarian cancer by cervical screenings, but that is not the case. Often women aren't aware of the symptoms or misjudge them which can lead to a later diagnosis.
Pauline approached Cancer Research UK to set up an ovarian cancer support group, something she felt was lacking.
The group meets at the David Rayner Centre at the Scotsdales garden centre in Great Shelford.
She said: “It’s just intended as an area where people with ovarian cancer can meet and talk about the practicalities and cry if they want to, it’s a safe environment.”
Following her diagnosis in 2018, Pauline has undergone chemotherapy, major abdominal surgery and is currently taking part in a clinical trial for her chemotherapy.
She said: “The assault on your body, you lose your hair, you lose your eyebrows, you lose your eyelashes ...“I’ve reached the stage a year later where I’m fed up of invasion and needles and the assault on my body.
“People say I’ve been stoical, and I have, but I’m fed up of it.
“I teeter on whether to just take it as it comes, but I’ve got plans for the year, and children, and grandchildren, and things I’ve got to do rather than just go into a hospice and wait.
“Because then it’s how am I going to go? Am I going to vomit? Have jaundice? You don’t just snuff out one day. Cancer is a horrible way to go."
Inspiring people
“Women are still waiting” - No screening nor vaccine for ovarian cancer
Cervical cancer can largely be prevented through screenings and the HPV vaccine, with Public Health England launching their Be Clear on Cancer campaign last week to encourage women to take up cervical screening.
However, no such screening or vaccine exists for ovarian cancer and many women may be at a greater risk of contracting the disease due to a lack of awareness.
Research carried out by Target Ovarian Cancer and YouGov has shown that 22 per cent of women mistakenly believe that cervical screening can detect ovarian cancer.
This means they may ignore symptoms, leading to late diagnosis, when ovarian cancer is more difficult to treat.
Ovarian cancer is the UK’s deadliest gynaecological cancer, but there is no screening nor a vaccine.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are persistent bloating, feeling full or loss of appetite, pelvic or abdominal pain and needing to urinate more often or urgently.
Other symptoms include changes in bowel habit, extreme fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.
Any bleeding after menopause should always be investigated by a GP.
Annwen Jones, chief executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “We need to combat the confusion around ovarian cancer and cervical screening, because while smear tests are a vital tool in public health, a similar option simply does not exist in ovarian cancer.
“While we welcome government investment in raising awareness of the cervical screening programme this March, the ovarian cancer community is painfully aware that 11 women die every day from ovarian cancer and we urgently need to see a national ovarian cancer symptoms awareness campaign.
“Women are still waiting.”
