Kathy’s Story

I not sure how to begin my story but I can say that it has been eventful .
I am 53 with 2 daughters age 25 and 27 my eldest daughter lives in America so when I got news of my cancer last year I had to make the hardest phone call ever to tell her my news.
My journey began with feeling dizzy October 2020 but only whilst sitting up .
My doctor ruled out vertigo etc and my bloods were all fine .
I then could feel a lump internally to the left of my vagina.  Yes I said VAGINA
I have struggled to say this word but that’s that bit out of the way.
I had surgical biopsy in November resulting in 20 internal stitches. My GP was certain there could be nothing wrong as I had a hysterectomy 13 years ago and apart from my lump there were no other symptoms .
She thought it may be scar tissue but I knew deep down, it wasn’t right .
Fast forward to December 4th I got my results to say I have very rare vaginal cancer only 250 cases in Uk each year .
I got my staging in December at Christie’s.  It was 3C.
Then the whirlwind began of pre op appts etc I had my tumour removed at Christie’s in January 2021 and complex reconstruction then lymph nodes in groin removed where cancer had spread hence I had 5 weeks chemo-radiation treatment.

Luckily, I sailed through chemo…..some patchy hair loss but no major side effects .
Radiotherapy burn however floored me, it was the worst pain I ever had. Weeks of a strict cream regime on my burns followed and I could barely walk.I then spent 9 days in hospital with an infection so severe it made me hallucinate that staff were trying to kill me, very scary, but I got through that.

So here I am not officially in remission, just being monitored at Christie’s .
I have a daft humour and love to look after people and make them happy .
I am also known for my love of flowers especially flowery dresses .
Cancer doesn’t scare me but I try to remember on the days where it’s challenged me to the max that always someone worse off than me and I am very lucky to have 2 healthy adult children and a huge support network.
Cancer has taught me to remember what I have in life not what I don’t have .
So far, I have met so many incredible people in Christie’s and Maggie’s .
I want to raise awareness of my rare cancer through taking part in the Maggie’s on the Runway fashion show. I want to prove that no matter how hard cancer is it won’t take my humour away and everyone in life can give something back and I not afraid to embarrass myself in the process.
My personal advice for anyone going through cancer is one day at a time and accept that none of us can control cancer but do can your very best to live with it.