'My cancer symptoms were dismissed for nine months. Now I'll never have children'
By Kahla Preston|
Just weeks before Michelle Cox had her entire cervix removed - and with it, her chance of ever conceiving a child - she was labelled กฐmelodramaticกฑ by her doctor.
For nine months, the GP had repeatedly dismissed the unusual symptoms sheกฏd been experiencing as กฐnot serious enoughกฑ to warrant a specialistกฏs attention.
Michelle, then 31, was constantly uncomfortable and bloated, and had watery discharge she likens to the feeling of กฐpeeing yourselfกฑ.
Having lost her mother and two grandparents to cancer, and having cancerous cells removed from her cervix two years earlier, she didnกฏt hesitate to seek medical attention.
กฐI was so vigilant, but the doctor told me, กฎNo, itกฏs just thrush.กฏ I thought, กฎIt doesnกฏt seem like thrush, these arenกฏt the symptoms of itกฏ,กฑ Michelle, now 46, tells 9Honey.
She was prescribed antibiotics three times, yet her condition worsened, leading her to shower four times a day and constantly wear a tampon because she felt กฐdirtyกฑ all the time.
Though her gut told her this wasnกฏt right, Michelle - who now part-owns a marketing communications agency group - was hesitant to contradict the GP or seek a second opinion.
กฐIกฏm happy to stand up for myself and be vocal as a businesswoman, but put me in front of a doctor and I go to mush,กฑ she explains.?
กฐI donกฏt know what it is, whether I just think theyกฏre smarter than me ... I would never argue with her. Iกฏd go, กฎOK, maybe Iกฏm a hypochondriac.กฏกฑ
After nine months, the stalemate between Michelle and her doctor finally ended. She received a กฐcondescendingกฑ referral to see a gynaecologist, but not for another three months.
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กฐI said to this woman, กฎI could be dead by then.กฏ I donกฏt know why I said that. She told me, กฎStop being so melodramaticกฏ,กฑ Michelle recalls.
Rather than wait, the businesswoman arranged to see another gynaecologist days later - and he immediately deduced her condition was, in fact, serious.
กฐHeกฏd done a full internal and I think he could see part of the tumour because it was so big,กฑ she says.
That was a Friday afternoon. The following Monday, when Michelle was in Darwin on business, the doctor called and informed her she had advanced cervical cancer.
กฐHe said, กฎThereกฏs a tumour inside you ... you need to get on a plane immediately, weกฏve booked you in at 8am to be operated on,กฏกฑ she recalls.
กฐAfter nine months of me trying to fight to just get a bloody referral, I just couldnกฏt comprehend it.กฑ
After her red-eye flight back to Sydney, Michelle was wheeled into surgery at 8am - but when she emerged, completely pain-free, there was more bad news.
กฐThe doctor came in and said, กฎItกฏs worse than we thought. [Your tumour] is the size of a small football, so we have to remove your whole cervix,กฏกฑ she recalls.
กฐกฎEssentially, you have to sign away your right to lose your fertility.กฏกฑ
As the surgeons only expected to be removing the tumour, theyกฏd had to hold off on the procedure until Michelle was aware of the situation and had signed the form.
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With her radical hysterectomy arranged for the following day, Michelle had just 24 hours to digest the idea sheกฏd never have children of her own.
กฐYou donกฏt really think about it in the moment because youกฏre in crisis mode, but in the months that followed I had to process everything,กฑ she explains
The surgery was successful, and doctors were able to save Michelleกฏs ovaries, meaning she wouldnกฏt endure premature menopause on top of everything else.?
Her first priority was to recover and get well again; fortunately, she wasnกฏt required to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
It was only then Michelle was able to take stock of the curveball that had come her way, and how it would change the life sheกฏd imagined for herself - and with her boyfriend, Denis.
The couple, who are now married, had been dating for just six months when her symptoms first appeared, but theyกฏd already discussed having a family together.
กฐIกฏd always thought I would be a mother,กฑ she says.
กฐIronically, my first marriage broke up because I wanted to have children and my first husband didnกฏt. So it was one of the first things I asked Denis about.กฑ
While Michelle hasnกฏt had children of her own, she adores being a stepmother to Denisกฏ two กฐgorgeousกฑ sons and godmother to several of her friendsกฏ children.
As for the doctor who dismissed Michelleกฏs concerns, sheกฏd made repeated attempts to get in touch after receiving updates on her diagnosis and operation following the referral.
Though Michelle blocked all her letters and phone calls at first, she eventually decided to close the chapter by confronting her over the phone.
กฐI said, กฎI hold you personally responsible for me not being able to have children, and you have to live with that for the rest of your lifeกฏ,กฑ Michelle recalls.
She also told the GP she wouldnกฏt pursue legal action, opting instead to leave her with a parting message before hanging up the phone.
กฐI told her, กฎWhat I want is that whenever you have another patient, and you have a seed of doubt, refer them on. Donกฏt do what you did to me. I never want to hear from you again.กฏกฑ
Michelle is sharing her story as part of the?Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group's?Save the Box campaign, which aims to raise awareness and funds for research into gynaecological cancers.
She hopes her experience will show other women the importance of taking their health seriously and being vigilant about seeking medical attention.
กฐIf you have weird changes in your body, go and see someone about it. Donกฏt be embarrassed because itกฏs your lady bits,กฑ she iterates.
กฐAnd if youกฏre not happy with the result, go and get a second opinion. It doesnกฏt hurt you to go to another doctor, youกฏre not being disloyal. Itกฏs your body.กฑ
