Woman thought she was being ‘over-dramatic’ until pains led to …
A mum whose daughter had been in agonising pain for months said she “screamed” when she learned of her devastating diagnosis.
It was six years ago when Jess Woods, who lives in Warrington[1], first raised concerns about her health as she began suffering abdominal pain, bladder and bowel problems. Doctors suspected the 28-year-old was suffering from gallstones, while her mum Paula thought she may be suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
But it wasn’t until she went under the knife for a complete gall bladder removal at Royal Liverpool Hospital in February that surgeons finally discovered the true cause of her constant pain – grade 3 ovarian cancer. Paula, 52, said the news hit the family “like a sledgehammer”, reports the Liverpool Echo.[2]
Paula, 52, said: “Jess was constantly going to the doctors and it got to the point where she felt like everything was in her head and she was being over-dramatic. She even ended up in A&E a couple of times because she was in that much agony. She was having pains in her abdomen and it was going round her back.
“It was put down to gallstones and problems with her gallbladder. But when it came down to the surgery, they found her gallbladder was fine. It was a low-grade, slow-growing cancer. It hit us like a sledgehammer. She rang me crying, and when I saw her and she said she had cancer, I just screamed. Everyone stopped in their tracks. Everyone turned and looked at me.”
(Image: Paula Woods)
Jess, went through her first round of chemotherapy at Halton General Hospital this month, and must undergo several more rounds before getting an update. Tragically, she was told that her condition will never be cured.
Paula said: “Jess doesn’t want to worry us. As a mother, you just want to throw your arms around her and say it’s going to be alright – but we know it’s never going to be gone. It’s treatable, but not curable. It’s gone too far. It’s gone under the liver, by her bowel, and right across her abdomen. It’s like a moss that slowly grows.
“She has asked what time she’s got left, and they can’t tell her. One of the things they said to me is that they’ve been treating some patients for 30 to 40 years, so it’s uncertain. I try to put it to the back of my mind as if it’s not happening, but it is happening. It’s real.”
As a result of her illness, Jess is now unable to go to work, and can only get about with the help of an electric scooter. Her friend, Melloney O’Hare, has set up a fund-raiser with the aim of supporting her financially while she goes through treatment.[4]
Paula said: “These days, Jess can’t walk very far because of the pain. She’s trying not to let it get her down. She even wanted to go straight back to work after chemo, but she’s now been told she’s too ill to work. The main thing that’s getting to her is that she can’t do much. She’s always been outgoing, never one to sit still.
“Jess is has always been a go-getter, very determined to achieve. She has a strong personality. She has a very caring nature, just vibrant. She has a zest for life. That’s what’s worrying her. She’s thinking now ‘what life have I got left?’. She’s always wanted to travel, and to her, it’s all being cut short.”
Paula, who lives in Old Swan, has now urged other young women like Jess to stand their ground if they fear something is wrong. She said: “Do not give in. Do not let yourself think it’s all in your head, that you’re being over-dramatic. You’ve got to keep fighting because there’s too many cases of people being diagnosed too late.
“I’m more angry at myself now because I was one of those people who thought she was being overly anxious – and now she’s been diagnosed with cancer that’s spread through her body.”
She added: “We are trying to remain optimistic. The oncologist said there’s hope, but at the end of the day we’re all different. Jess seems to be getting better as the days go on, but every time she goes for treatment it knocks her back down again. But we’re trying to stay positive. It’s all we’ve got.”
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References
- ^ Warrington (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ reports the Liverpool Echo. (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Dad who was ‘passed from pillar to post’ found dead in back of lorry (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ has set up a fund-raiser with the aim of supporting her financially while she goes through treatment. (www.gofundme.com)
- ^ Sign up for CheshireLive email direct to your inbox here (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)