It is hard to know where to start. In 2015 I was 27 and getting married to my best friend of ten years – six months later it was an entirely different story.
It all started with me getting a staph infection along my knicker line. I went to my GP and there was a swab test taken/Pap smear. The tests showed there was abnormal cells & I was referred on to a gynaecologist.
After having biopsy tests I underwent a LOOP procedure to remove the cells and was then referred to an oncologist located two hours away. After seeing them I had a cone biopsy to remove more of the cervix. He was confident it was all removed but would call in about a week. I knew in my body that something wasn’t right.
Two days passed and my husband and I were called to Perth. I remember getting the phone call at work to say I had Stage 2 cervical cancer and needed to come back to see him immediately.
I travelled two hours to see him after which I was given two options.
- Undergo radiation and chemotherapy, or
- Have a radical hysterectomy to remove my cervix and uterus
I looked at my husband and just balled. We had to make a decision there and then so we chose option two. Trying to face the facts I could never carry a child got me so depressed – nothing anyone could say was going to make it better.
The day of surgery was just such a blur. Recovery was extremely difficult, especially being so far away from my family and friends. Since that day I have had testing done every six months, and I’m coming up to five years this November.
All of the above happened in just three months so I really am grateful to be here and be alive. Whilst the cancer took away my chances of having children it never stopped me from being determined to be a mum. In December 2018, through the generosity of a beautiful surrogate, my angel daughter arrived. I thank my lucky stars every single day that it was still possible to have children with my own eggs.