How do you react when you are told that you have Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer?
Dee Flannelly was understandably devastated. She was shocked because she had symptoms, but had not been aware that they MIGHT be signs of Ovarian Cancer.
So now she is making it her mission to increase women’s awareness of the possible signs of ovarian cancer.
A mother of 3 and grandmother of 9, she and her husband Pat, a recently retired Aer Lingus Captain, had just begun pouring foundations for their dream home (below). Then, a shock diagnosis of Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer sent her into a tailspin.
HEALTH AT THE TIME
Dee was always proactive about her health. She had a number of abnormal smears and had been sent for a colposcopy. It had come back clear. Urinary Tract Infections had been treated with antibiotics.
A tightness in her chest 6 months pre-diagnosis had been treated by her GP with a nasal spray. This she learned (later) was a swollen lymph node.
Then she found herself in A&E with an excruciating pain in her stomach. Because of a previous history with kidney stones, she was sent for an MRI. And then they did a CA-125 cancer marker blood test for Ovarian Cancer.
“I’m so sorry you have cancer”, “admitting you immediately”, “removal of fallopian tube for biopsy”…words blurred into each other as she sat alone in a cubicle due to Covid restrictions.
TREATMENT FOR OVARIAN CANCER
Her treatment began soon after her diagnosis. It began with 9 weekly sessions of chemotherapy.
Then surgery, which included a full hysterectomy, appendectomy, plus omentum removal.
She also had radical HIPEC. Not every patient is suitable for this as you have to meet certain criteria. It is a powerful dose of heated chemotherapy given on the operating table.
Once she had recovered from surgery, she had 9 more weeks of chemotherapy.
This was followed by a year of immunotherapy infusions every three weeks.
Twenty months later, treatment was completed and in July last year there was no evidence of disease. Dee will have a scan every six months, going forward.
They are living in their dream home and Pat is currently finishing the main bathroom.
OVARIAN CANCER SYMPTOMS
DEE’S MESSAGE TO ANYONE WITH OVARIES
- There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer
- Most women are given a late stage diagnosis by the time it is detected.
- Ovarian Cancer has the highest mortality rate of all the gynaecological cancers.
- Women need to educate and advocate for themselves if they think something is wrong. Our lives are at stake. This disease is overlooked, awareness is low, and women aren’t being diagnosed early enough.
- A cervical smear check does NOT detect ovarian cancer; unfortunately, many women believe it does.
- Dee wants information on gynaecological cancers to be distributed along with cervical checks.
FINALLY…
Dee considers herself lucky to be alive, (above at their son’s wedding on New Year’s Eve 2023) but works hard every day to suppress the fear of a recurrence, as initially she was told there was a 75% chance of it. She does not know what normal is anymore. While she was concerned for her friend who had a terminal diagnosis of ovarian cancer, she did not realise her bloated tummy was a symptom and not a reason to join Weight Watchers.
Determined to get awareness out there, Dee was asked by the Irish Ovarian Cancer Community – www.ovacare.ie – to talk at a conference in Belfast and tell her story. Ovarian Cancer may be a silent killer; Dee Flannelly will not stay silent.
Thank you Dee for sharing your story with us. Please share this post and this information with everyone you know.
It is World Cancer Day tomorrow Februray 4th. It is a global initiative dedicated to raise awareness about cancer, promoting prevention and advocating for improved treatment and care.
Five years ago I shared Marie Carbery’s story. You can read it HERE
Love Hilda x
The most shocking thing about this awful story is the way she was told of the diagnosis. Busyness is no excuse for lack of gentleness when delivering such a devastating blow. Even with covid…..there had to be a better way. Her husband could have been with her on the phone, having been told first what to expect. Thankfully Dee’s story has a happy ending after all her trials.
Thanks Hilda! Helpful and informative article. Paula
Thanks for reading and comment Paula x
What a BEAUTIFUL WOMAN!
THANK YOU FOR THE STORY AND SYMPTOMS!!
I have a FEW of those!
What struck me MOST was the MD’s lack of concern………….
I have had the same reactions!!
The BEST ONE was the pimple I had on my leg for over a year!
The 30 something doctoressa said it was probably an in grown hair!
IT was a SQUAMOUS CANCER.
THANK GOD I INSISTED UPON SEEING A DERMATOLOGIST!
She operated right away in her office!
BOY did I let that 30 – something have it with an email CAPS AND ALL!!!!!!
BIG HUG to BOTH of YOU!
XXX
Thanks Elizabeh. Dee is wonderful and so generous in sharing her story. She just wants other women to be aware. We have to be our own advocates.
So glad her story had a happy ending as far too many don’t. I will be pinning this graphic! Feel free to link up with us at the link party I host too (https://www.myslicesoflife.com/2024/02/talking-about-it-tuesdays-6.html).
Thanks Joanne I will.
Thanks for sharing Dee’s story. The more awareness for ovarian cancer the better, as it can be a silent killer. I remember when I worked at a PR agency in the 80s that a woman in her late 30s was diagnosed very late and died a fortnight later. It was heart breaking.
Thanks Gail. Yes awareness is important. xxxx
I can’t thank you enough for this story. I was my wonderful mom’s primary caregiver for four years and I lost her to ovarian cancer in 2007. I was devastated and still miss her so much to this day. We still have such a long way to go in detecting this cancer in its early stages.
Thank you Stephanie for your comment. It is a cruel disease and hopefully raised awareness of the symptoms will help.And of course more research needed too. I am so sorry for your loss.xx