Great Sankey woman with cancer 'wasn't taken seriously'

Jess Woods, who lives in Great Sankey, was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in February this year, after first visiting her GP in 2017.

In a years-long battle to get to the root of her pain, Jess was batted from pillar to post before receiving her diagnosis earlier this year.

Jess says she was made to feel as though she wasn't being taken seriously (Image: Jess Woods)

Jess, who is 28, first visited her GP when she was living in Liverpool after she had experienced pain during intercourse - her GP suggested further tests, which all came back clear.

Knowing something was still not right, Jess noticed that her toilet habits were changing, as she needed to go to the toilet more frequently; also, she said she had been getting severe pains in her shoulder.

Jess' GP again ran tests, sending samples of blood and stool to be checked - again, these came back normal, and Jess was told that it was likely she had IBS, which was put down to her weight, and she was referred to a dietician.

Jess said: "The pain in my shoulder got worse over the next four years and it began to start in the right side of my abdomen, radiating up my right side, lower back and into the tip of my shoulder - I ended up in A&E a few times, the pain was that intense.

"They felt my stomach and said I have gallstones - referred me to have my gallbladder removed and sent me home with buscopan."

Two years on, Jess still had not heard from this referral, until she was given a cancellation date, which meant she would be able to go under the knife at a hospital in Liverpool - once she was in her operation gown, the hospital's staff said she had been booked in at the wrong hospital.

Jess eventually went into theatre in February this year, but she knew something was wrong.

She said: "The surgeon came into my recovery room and said 'We haven't been able to take the gall bladder because we have found a large cyst, we're unsure whether it is attached to your ovaries or abdomen, surrounded by a lot of fluid, we have taken a biopsy and will await the results before deciding a plan moving forward.'"

Jess said she then broke down, before asking if it was stage four cancer - the surgeon explained that this could not be ruled out.

Since then, Jess has had scans which have confirmed that she has stage three ovarian cancer, which is thankfully treatable but not curable.

Jess said: "I was told the cancer had 'obliterated' my fertility, taking over both ovaries and fallopian tubes and my womb was unhealthy."

Jess says she is supported by her family, as well as her partner, Liam (Image: Jess Woods)

She is currently undergoing chemotherapy but said: "Failing this, they will look at hormone treatment as that is what the cancer is feeding off.

"Failing that, we must rely on clinical trials.  I may also need a stoma bag further down the line and surgery to have a hysterectomy.

"The oncologist said there's hope and that's what I'm clinging onto at the minute."

Jess said: "I don't believe I was taken seriously; I think because I was overweight and young, they didn't even consider cancer.

"I just needed that one GP to say 'I highly doubt it is, but let's check anyway.'

"It took me six years to be diagnosed - six years too late."

When asked what advice she would give to anyone going through something similar, Jess said: "My advice would be to listen to your bodies and push GPs when something isn't right.

"We know our bodies better than any medical professional and we shouldn't take no for an answer."

Jess is being supported through her treatment by her family, as well as her partner, Liam - she said: "I'm staying positive day to day, we still have those days where we have a little cry, but then we pick ourselves back up.

"My life has literally been turned upside down in a matter of months, but I'm adjusting and I'm not counting the days, I'm making the days count because there is hope."

A fundraising page has been set up to support Jess through her treatment, which can be found at the following address: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jess-wood