Woman Dismissed Pain as Muscle Strain, Later Received Cancer Diagnosis
A mother of two initially believed she was suffering from a pulled muscle, only to be diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer. Grainne, whose children were six and 10 at the time of her diagnosis, is now three years post-discharge from care and sharing her story in recognition of world GO Day (Gynaecologic Oncology Awareness Day).
Grainne chose not to tell her children about her cancer diagnosis initially, explaining her hair loss from chemotherapy treatment as a side effect of a “special drug.” “I was told it was gone and to go and live my life so I thought, ’what’s the point in telling them and worrying them’.” She remains on the books for monitoring in case of recurrence.
Throughout her journey, Grainne emphasized the importance of positive thinking. “I felt sorry for myself for the first couple of days after chemo but then a week later when you were getting more energy and all that you’d be thinking, ‘ah well, this is not that bad’.” She has since lost three stone, beginning at the end of March this year, by focusing on healthier eating and calorie counting, despite previously being overweight and experiencing weight gain during treatment.
Grainne admits to experiencing “serious health anxiety” following her diagnosis, though it has lessened over time. “I would have serious health anxiety as the whole thing. It’s not as bad anymore but I do have serious health anxiety since it all happened. I think because it all happened so quick… but I try to think of the positives not the negative.”
Her advice to other women is direct: “Any little change you notice or anything that’s not normal for you, go and get it checked.Stay away from Google as Google is so outdated it’s amazing.” she cautions against self-diagnosing online, noting that facts found on the internet can be inaccurate and alarming – in her case, Google suggested a life expectancy of one to two years, while she is now approaching three years post-diagnosis.”So any little thing, no matter how small you think it is, just go and get it checked. And if you are diagnosed with anything, just positive thinking, think of the positives of it not the negative, that’s my advice.”
