Alice Brothill always dreamed of settling down and starting a family. But as soon as she and her 10-year-old partner decided to try for a baby, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
“I was shocked and didn’t get hooked,” the marketing director said. I. “I was in the best shape of my life, in my prime. I didn’t smoke, I ate well, went to the gym three times a week and took boxing lessons.”
One of the first questions the counselor asked 34-year-old Alice after he told her she had cancer was if she had children and if she wanted them.
“I didn’t have kids and over the past few months my partner and I decided we were ready. I really wanted to maintain my fertility.”
But doctors decided the best way to treat the condition was a radical hysterectomy — removing the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes while sparing her ovaries so she wouldn’t face early menopause. This meant that she would never be able to bear her own child.
“Operation was successfully completed. But I was angry. I didn’t know how to process and accept what happened to me.”
affects mental health
Alice from Derby attended all cervical examinations. She was told that she had the human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV can be transmitted through any skin-to-genital contact, vaginal, anal or oral sex, or by sharing sex toys. The virus is very common – about eight out of ten people become infected at some point in their lives – and for most it does not cause any problems. HPV usually goes away on its own within two years.
About 13 “high risk” types can cause cancer, and almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. HPV vaccination may help reduce the risk.
Alice was also told that she had abnormal cells on her cervix called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). They were in group 3, the highest level. Most cellular changes do not translate into cervical cancer, but treatment is necessary.
Based on these results, Alice was biopsied and found to have cancer. The doctors initially said she was stage 1b, but the doctors were concerned that the cancer might have spread to her uterus, so they recommended a radical hysterectomy.
She had a two-month vacation and recovered well physically, but her prognosis and surgery took a toll on her mental health.
“Physically, I was better, but something was wrong. It was trauma from being told that I had cancer, that I was going to have surgery, and that I really faced the loss of fertility.
“I was at the age when many friends and relatives had children. There were times when I was with them and their kids and it got too much and I just had to get out of the room.
Alice saw a psychologist for six months and sought support from Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, a charity that offers personalized care.
“Therapy helped me unravel my feelings, most of which I outwardly hid very well from the world. It was really helpful, I had family and friends to talk to, but I also needed a professional.”
Alice and her then-partner separated after about a year, which she said was due to “various reasons”. This meant that she was lonely and afraid of being rejected because she couldn’t have children.
“I thought I was a confident woman at thirty-five, but I was worried about how people would react to it,” she said.
“I know that I will have memories”
After taking a bullet and using online dating sites, Alice has been dating her partner Sean for two years now, who is “incredibly accepting” of the situation. She said, “When I dated, I didn’t really meet anyone who had a problem with that.”
Three years after being diagnosed with cancer, she says she has reached a point of acceptance: “While this journey has not been easy, I have come a long way. Cancer changes your outlook on life. It makes you understand what is important and who is important. I have my own dog, a kind of “fur baby”.
“My point of view is to take the initiative when problems arise and solve them rather than let them fester. Getting cancer is difficult, but the loss of fertility before the birth of children remains for life.
“I know I will face obstacles and memories of ‘losses’ throughout my life, but I accept it now. In the end, I was very lucky that my cancer was detected at an early stage of screening. My story could have been very different.”
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week runs from January 23-29, and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is launching its End Cervical Cancer campaign. Click here to find out how to raise awareness and get involved.
Symptoms of cervical cancer
- Unusual vaginal bleeding, including bleeding during or after sex, between periods, or after menopause, or more heavy than normal periods.
- Changes in vaginal discharge.
- pain during sex.
- Pain in the lower back, between the pelvic bones (in the pelvis), or in the abdomen.
If you have another condition, such as fibroids or endometriosis, you may experience these symptoms regularly. You may find that you are used to it. But it’s important to get checked out by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or don’t feel normal.
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Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.