Mum, 32, diagnosed with terminal cancer after miscarriage masked symptoms for SEVEN MONTHS
BRAVE mum-of-two has just months to live and is trying to raise awareness for the killer disease
A WOMAN with cervical cancer has just months to live because medics missed her symptoms after she suffered a miscarriage.
Helen Dixon starting bleeding unexpectedly last February and was told by doctors she'd lost her unborn baby, despite not even knowing she was pregnant.
The 32-year-old continued to notice blood and began having bad stomach pains over the next few months, which she claims doctors told her was a result of the miscarriage.
But it was only seven months later, after another doctor tried to give her a smear test, that Helen was referred to hospital and diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer.
Helen, who moved her wedding to fiance Paul, 40, forward by a year, tied the knot wearing a green dress to raise awareness for cervical cancer.
She said: "I really think there's not enough awareness about cervical cancer so we decided to have a jade green wedding as that's the colour used to raise awareness.
"I even had a jade green coloured dress – it was the best day of my life and felt like a dream. It was so perfect, I was so lucky to be able to marry the man of my dreams.
"When I was told I'd miscarried I was in complete shock. I had no idea whatsoever that I was even pregnant so I never thought anything was wrong when I was still bleeding months later.
"I was told it was my body's way of dealing with what had happened so to be told seven months down the line that I had cervical cancer it turned my world upside down."
Mum-of-two Helen knew she needed to stay strong for her daughters, Lucy Thompson, 17, and Hannah Rowe, 10, when she was given the devastating terminal diagnosis.
After learning she had miscarried in February of last year, Helen says she visited her GP on four different occasions because she was still finding spots of blood.
At the time these were put down to infections and she was given antibiotics, but she now believes they could have been signs of the cancer.
Helen says she was told her symptoms were her body's way of getting back to normal after the miscarriage.
In August, Helen saw a different doctor and was told she was overdue for a smear test.
RELATED STORIES
But the doctor then told her they were unable to perform the test because her cervix looked abnormal, and she was referred to hospital.
Helen said: "It was so scary, I'd always had my smears on time and must have only just been overdue for one.
"The doctor referred me to the hospital where I had a colposcopy.
"That was when my life fell apart and I was told I had stage 4B cervical cancer - it was just so out of the blue.
"After my diagnosis they said the cancer probably wouldn't have shown up on the smear test anyway which is worrying.
"The symptoms were so minor and obviously just put down to the miscarriage - I want to help raise more awareness of this type of cancer and encourage people to know the symptoms."
In September Helen had a colposcopy – a procedure to find out whether there are abnormal cells on or in a woman's cervix or vagina – and was given the diagnosis.
Tests showed that her cancer was at stage 4B meaning the cancer had spread to organs further away from the cervix and her only option was to have six rounds of chemotherapy.
Before the diagnosis, Helen had noticed bleeding and strange vaginal discharge along with stomach pain.
She wants to encourage people to get checked out if they think something is wrong and to have regular smear tests.
Helen's cancer is currently being managed with an antibody drug to stop any tumours from growing, but doctors have told her it will eventually return.
She said: "I now take every day as it comes and tell myself that I will beat this. I have to be strong for my husband and daughters.
"I have the love and support from family and friends through all my clinic appointments treatment and, even though I've had ups and downs, I know I can get through this."
Leeds West CCG and the GP practice were both approached for statements but declined to comment on individual cases.
FACTS ON CERVICAL CANCER ACCORDING TO THE NHS WEBSITE
- The symptoms of cervical cancer aren't always obvious, and it may not cause any symptoms at all until it's reached an advanced stage
- In most cases, vaginal bleeding is the first noticeable symptom of cervical cancer. It usually occurs after having sex
- Bleeding at any other time, other than your expected monthly period, is also considered unusual
- If you've had an abnormal cervical screening test result, or your symptoms suggest that you may have cervical cancer, your gynaecologist will usually carry out a colposcopy. This is an examination to look for abnormalities in your cervix
- The NHS advises women to visit their GP for advice if they experience any type of unusual vaginal bleeding