A young woman is bleeding.
And don't think anything bad at first.
But an investigation reveals the terrible cause of the complaints.
On the way to a surprise visit to her mother, a young woman is
bleeding
.
You and your doctors consider the symptoms to be hormonal fluctuations.
But then she receives the shock diagnosis:
cancer
.
Brisbane, Australia - Irregular
periods
, thought Australian Katrina Cunnane when she noticed she was bleeding on the way to see her mother just before Christmas.
Nothing to worry the then 32-year-old, Daily Mail Australia reported.
The young woman had just stopped taking her contraceptive injection.
Hormonal changes and, as a result, irregular
bleeding
seemed the obvious explanation.
That was December 23, 2018.
Shock diagnosis for Australians: irregular periods turns out to be cancer
Two years and numerous treatments later, the now 34-year-old does not have much time left, according to Daily Mail Australia.
Because what they and the doctors initially thought was a hormone disorder turned out to be
cancer
- a huge tumor.
A shock to the woman who worked as a business manager in Brisbane.
On the topic of # cervical cancer and # HPV vaccination: a collection of facts by @UlrikeGebhardt https://t.co/XyK9Fwz2GV #Weltkrebstag #WorldCancerDay #Archive
- Spectrum (@spectrum) February 4, 2020
When the Australian arrived at her mother, a former nurse, on December 23, 2018 and reported about her
bleeding
, she was immediately worried and insisted that her daughter was going to the emergency room.
What the two women didn't know at the time was that the bleeding was the first sign of
cancer
to spread in the Australian's uterus, according to Daily Mail Australia.
Cancer after bleeding: Doctors initially assumed hormonal fluctuations
But first the doctors in the emergency room prescribed her the contraceptive pill on December 23, 2018 in order to master the supposed hormonal fluctuations.
At this point it was clear that stopping the contraceptive injection had led to a hormonal imbalance.
That was not the case.
The
bleeding
came back a few weeks later, according to the Daily Mail Australia - and to a greater extent than before.
There was also pain in the lower back.
Her gynecologist took a swab with a worrying result.
Because the test showed massive cell changes.
Cancer information service: Gynecological examinations important
"Everyone knew I had
cancer
, but nobody wanted to say it out loud," says the 34-year-old, looking back. Her last test for
cancer
was six years ago at this point - with completely normal values. About cervical cancer screening says the Kebsinformationsdienst:
Statutory insurance women can
take advantage of
a free examination for
cervical cancer
and its precursors
every year
.
From the age of 35, a test for human papilloma viruses can be done every three years.
In addition, all women aged 20 and over are entitled to an annual
gynecological examination
.
Similar regulations usually apply to privately insured women.
The details can be found in the contract with the private health insurance company.
The benefit of regular examinations for
cancer screening
has been well documented, says the cancer information service's website.
A country's cancer rate would drop significantly if many women took advantage of these services.
Forty years ago, more than twice as many women died from
cervical cancer
than today.
Cancer
precursors can already be identified with the smear
.
Early cancer detection: Only going to the doctor if you have symptoms can mean poorer chances of a cure
But even if
cancer has
already developed, the disease can be treated better and more promisingly.
As reported by the Cancer Information Service, a visit to the doctor can only indicate an advanced disease if there are symptoms - and thus also poorer healing prospects.
Katrina Cunnane, the young Australian with the shock diagnosis of
cancer
, was due to have an operation on April 4th, 2019.
But when she woke up from the anesthetic, she was told that the
tumor
had already spread into the abdominal cavity and could no longer be removed due to its size.
In addition, the
uterus was
so severely damaged that it could never have children, reports Daily Mail Australia.
Fight with cancer: Australians don't have much time left
The doctors started the therapy on June 10th, 2019.
Six sessions of chemotherapy, 28 radiation treatments and one brachytherapy later gave the woman hope, as the treatment seemed to be working well.
There is an 80 percent chance of successful therapy, it said at the time.
Cancer type | cervical cancer |
Possible first symptoms | Vaginal, strong smelling discharge, bleeding after sex, irregular bleeding outside of your cycle or after menopause |
First contact | General practitioners and gynecologist |
diagnosis | Pap smear, gynecological examination, in case of abnormalities: tissue sample |
Nine months later the bad news followed: The
cancer
had attacked the pelvic tissue and the lymph nodes - the prospect of healing: gone.
The doctors gave her 12 to 24 months.
“I can still remember that I was paralyzed.
The doctor had to write it down for me in black and white because I couldn't believe what I was hearing, ”says Katrina Cunnane of this moment.
When she shared the news with her mother on the phone, she heard "her heart break."
Cancer: Last Hope for Experimental Immunotherapy
According to the news platform Daily Mail Australia, the only thing that remains from that point on is palliative chemotherapy to, if not save, at least prolong her life.
For the now 34-year-old and former weightlifter, everything has changed within two years.
"My whole life has changed and I often feel like a shadow of my former self," she told Daily Mail Australia.
She "is desperately waiting for a miracle".
Katrina Cunnane hopes to be accepted for experimental immunotherapy, according to Daily Mail Australia.
For them their last hope of healing.
"Time is valuable and I've wasted so much of it over the years," said the seriously ill woman.
Cancer patient: women should take care of each other - end of stigma
She wants to spare other women her fate: "It's time for women to look out for other women - ask each other whether you are up to date with your Pap smears," says the Australian.
She wanted to sensitize other women with her story.
Women should be able to talk more openly about their gynecological health and normalize discussions about complaints.
Because there is still a supposed stigma on the subject that would keep many from it.
(Katharina Ahnefeld)
Joan Martindale has her fingernails manicured.
Then the nail designer utters a bad guess.
A doctor confirms the diagnosis: It's cancer.
List of rubric lists: © Mick_Tsikas / dpa
