ANNA'S BRAVE THE SHAVE

After numerous attempts to tell my GP that 'things down there' weren't right and being told not to worry (even after a sample of blood resembling chopped liver was presented!) I sought a second opinion by a female GP who put me forward for tests at NNUH. All my previous smears were clear and was due the next smear in Nov '15. But in March I found out from NNUH Gynae that I had stage 2b cervical cancer that metastisized to the para-aortic artery and outer cervix wall. Treatment was chemoradiotherapy for each day for 7 weeks and a further week of internal radiation (brachytherapy) along with numerous blood transfusions and a week long stay in hospital that brought me close to a cardiac arrest! I have been screaming on the floor in pain surrounded by my waste and vomit and seen blood pour out from me, wreathing in pain, not to mention that the frying of my ovaries and womb put me headlong in to menopause. Despite all of this and going through PTSD..I AM STILL HERE AND FIGHTING HARD TO LIVE A GREAT LIFE!!!! I thank all my friends and family and colleagues for supporting me through difficult times and remaining positive and keeping life as normal, whatever normal means... I thank you for your support and donations and one day, I hope the 'C' word will be a word of the past...hope for the future.