Claire O’Shea, a 41-year-old woman who was misdiagnosed for months, is calling for “something dramatic” to change after being diagnosed with incurable cancer. Initially, she was told she had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but a masseuse on her holiday suggested the lump in her abdomen could have a more sinister cause. Later, she was diagnosed with an uncommon form of gynaecological cancer. Welsh Government has introduced targeted support for gynaecological cancer services, but a Senedd committee report describes the need to stamp out a “dangerous bias” towards women whose cancer concerns are frequently “dismissed, downplayed and unheard.”
The report comes in the wake of various women’s cancer concerns being ignored, including that of Judith Rowlands, who died shortly after sharing her evidence on the matter. Even after being referred for a scan within days of her return from the holiday, Claire was told she had benign fibroids – non-cancerous growths around the womb. The lump grew the size of a grapefruit by the time it was removed eight months later, and a biopsy confirmed it was uterine leiomyosarcoma. It is a rare cancer of the soft tissue in her uterus, and the prognosis is generally mere 12 to 18 months because it is so uncommon, there is little research into it, and women generally get diagnosed later.
After a year of undergoing chemotherapy, and a hysterectomy, Claire’s tumour has stabilised so far, and another scan before the Christmas holidays will determine the next course of action. She has already beaten her prognosis of 12 to 18 months. Claire says she is trying to channel her anger over her situation into raising awareness, as there has to be something dramatic to improve women’s healthcare experiences and care. In Wales, they have a woman who’s a health minister, a government aiming to be the first feminist government and talk about wanting an equal Wales. However, they are not transforming into better care for women.
Judi Rhys, Chief Executive of Tenovus Cancer Care, said the stories shared with the committee only brushed the surface, revealing a systemic failure of women. Regrettably, Judith passed away before the report with her story was published. One of Judith’s final wishes was for her experience to be heard so that other women didn’t have to endure the same. The Welsh Government said, “It is crucial women’s concerns are taken seriously when they go to the NHS for help. The experiences of the women in the report will aid in improving services.” Cancer is one of the six planning priorities for the NHS, and targeted support has been introduced for gynaecological cancer services. GPs are also provided with supportive tools for referral of suspected cancer
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