A woman has shared the harrowing tale of how her extreme menstrual pains and bloating turned out to be a rare form of cancer – which forced doctors to remove eight of her organs.
Faye Louise suffered from heavy periods for years, with the GP prescribing mefenamic acid to ease the pain, however became worried when this discomfort extended a week before and after her period.
Visiting her GP in March 2023, she was referred to Redhill Hospital for an ultrasound and CT scan.
While awaiting the results she collapsed and was rushed to hospital where doctors told the 39-year-old from West Sussex she had a 17cm cyst on her left ovary, that was growing into her stomach.
Tests also suggested some swelling in her appendix, so surgeons decided to remove it at the same time as taking out the mass to prevent any further issues.
However, while the cyst turned out to be benign, while she was on the operating table, doctors discovered a cancerous tumour in the appendix.
However, while she was on the operating table, doctors were shocked to discover an appendiceal tumour on the wall of her appendix.
“There was no indication of any cancer at all before the operation,” Faye Louise, a flight dispatcher and model, who shares her ongoing journey with her 30,000 followers (@faye .louiseuk), told Jam Press.
“[When they told me after surgery], felt like my world came crashing down.
“I lost my mum to bowel cancer two years ago, so my initial thought was this is it for me – history is repeating itself.
“I had panic attacks frequently.
“It was honestly the worst days and weeks of my life.
“I was looking at funeral plans and telling my partner Will I wouldn’t live to see 45 or 50.”
Surgeons had been forced to leave the mass inside Faye Louise’s body to prevent it from rupturing and leaking cells into her other organs.
While the cancer was benign at the time, if it broke through her appendix wall, it would become an extremely rare and malignant cancer known as pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).
Unfortunately for Faye Louise, the tumour ruptured, spreading low-grade mucinous neoplasm around her body, the cancer becoming a potentially fata PMP.
She was referred to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital in September 2023, which specialises in this type of complicated cancer.
She said: “My consultant showed me my scans and told me the cancer had spread around the peritoneal area (the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity).
“He told me the proposed treatment was a very extensive operation and said they would have to remove multiple organs.
“Heated chemotherapy would then be applied directly into the abdomen.
“It’s the magic potion that kills off any cancer the surgeons can’t see.”
Faye Louise had her operation in November and had eight organs removed including her gallbladder, spleen, appendix, small bowel (which was rejoined to her colon), ovaries, uterus, and part of her liver, plus peritoneal abdominal cavity.
Thankfully, the operation was successful and she is now cancer-free.
But the journey to recovery has been a tough one, with Faye Louise supported by her partner, Will, 30, and getting plenty of cuddles from their beloved dog Neville.
Faye said: “I will now have a three-to-six-month recovery period at home.
“So far, it’s been very painful and very difficult.
“I am sleeping a lot and on oral morphine for pain relief.
“I ended up with 65 staples and left the hospital 10 kg lighter.
“I’m in early menopause now, so I will have to take hormone replacement therapy.
“I will also have to have follow-up scans annually to make sure there’s no reoccurrence.
“Now I just want to look forward.
“I’m excited to spend Christmas with my family and I want to cherish every moment in my life.
“I feel like I have stared death in the face.
“I had cancer for four to five years before I was diagnosed and had no idea, with no symptoms.
“Some days I just can’t believe I’ve been through this and it all started with a cyst.”
Faye Louise is also determined to raise awareness for low-grade mucinous neoplasm and highlight the phenomenal work of Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.
She has shared every step of her journey with her followers and is eager to raise awareness of her extremely rare type of tumour, known as a pseudomyxoma.
Faye Louise added: “The team at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital are amazing.
“I can’t possibly thank them enough.
“They made me cancer free which is something that felt impossible when I first got diagnosed.
“I’m home now but I think mentally it will take me some time to recover from this ordeal.
“It still feels too good to be true that I’m cancer-free.”
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