Caroline, 54, from Trelogan in Flintshire, had severe abdominal pain from March 2023 and believed her contraceptive coil was responsible. She repeatedly asked doctors to remove it, was referred to a sexual-health clinic that could not take it out, and returned to her GP in May in such pain that she said she crawled into the surgery.
Scans showed that the coil was being pressed against by a 13cm tumour. Caroline was diagnosed with stage-three ovarian cancer in June 2023 and said she feared she might not live for another two years. She had previously been diagnosed with endometriosis and said she had no family history of ovarian cancer.
Four rounds of chemotherapy at The Christie in Manchester reduced the tumour to 8cm. On October 26, Caroline underwent a six-hour operation to remove her womb and cervix, omentum and appendix. She later completed two further chemotherapy rounds in January 2024, with follow-up CT scans showing no evidence of disease.
Caroline said she believed the coil had prompted the investigation that uncovered the cancer, although the device itself was not identified as the cause of the tumour. She also criticised the delay in having her symptoms taken seriously and said she wished women could be diagnosed more easily.
Testing found gene mutations associated with increased breast and ovarian cancer risk. Caroline is consulting doctors about a possible double mastectomy with reconstruction and implants through a trial, while relatives are undergoing genetic testing. Her grandson Roman was born a month after her surgery, giving her another milestone during treatment.
Ovarian cancer symptoms can include persistent abdominal or pelvic pain, bloating, loss of appetite, feeling full quickly and increased urinary urgency. These symptoms are common and may have other causes, but persistent or worsening symptoms should be assessed.