Sandra’s melon-sized tumour shock
Date of release: 27 March 2024
Wolverhampton patient Sandra Benton describes the staff at New Cross Hospital’s Gynaecology Department as “angels” for all the support and care they have given her following her ovarian cancer surgery.
Sandra Benton
Sandra, 60, is urging women not to assume any change in their bodies can be put down to the menopause after having a melon-sized tumour removed.
Before her diagnosis, her pain and indigestion worsened but she ignored these potential symptoms blaming the menopause and thinking her gut health might be to blame.
After six months of pain in her lower stomach – which she put down to a muscle pull due to having a lung condition – she now thanks her “lucky stars” that she sought medical advice.
Sandra, a Travel Agent from Cheslyn Hay, felt a small lump on her stomach and was instructed to go to the Emergency Department the same day by her GP. The ultrasound scan showed a large mass –the size of a melon.
“It didn’t take long from then before everything within my body changed. The tumour had grown so much that it had pushed my other organs around. I was very uncomfortable,” said Sandra.
“I started to put on fluid around my stomach and within two days, I put on one stone and couldn’t move as there was 10 litres of fluid around my abdomen.”
Shortly afterwards, Sandra had a full hysterectomy and the tumour, and her appendix removed. Her weight dropped to seven stone in one week.
Originally planning to have six sessions of chemotherapy, she was only able to complete five due to being so weak.
She added: “My tumour was very large, but the cancer had been caught and removed early. I thank my lucky stars I did something about it.
“The Gynaecology Service at RWT are a group of angels who are so generous with their time and are amazing at their jobs. They provided proactive additional emotional support and throughout my journey Sandeep kept me from falling to pieces.”
Sandeep Gosall, Gynae-oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: Sandra is a great example of why we should listen to our bodies and act on any changes. Her cancer was caught early, and treatment has been successful.”
Due to being one of five sisters, Sandra carried out a genetic test to see if the ovarian cancer was in her family. She was relieved to discover this isn’t the case.
Since the cancer has been removed, she is having regular check-ups at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and is living her life to the full. This week she is off on an Australian adventure, ticking off places on her bucket list. She is “very grateful” to be healthy enough to be able to do this.
This Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Sandra is hoping to raise awareness by sharing her story. She said: “Do not think that a change in your body is because of age or the menopause.
“If you have any aches, pains or nagging stitch in your abdomen then please seek medical advice.
“The swift action could save your life.”
ENDS
- For further information, please email: m.aston1@nhs.net
