Interview OV13

Age at interview: 51

Age at diagnosis: 48

Brief Outline: Ovarian cancer diagnosed in 2000 after pain and abdominal bloating. Treated by surgical removal of ovaries and womb followed by chemotherapy. Recurrences treated with further chemotherapy.

Background: Teacher; married, 2 children.

Describes how she passed the time during chemotherapy treatments.

Sometimes I had a friend with me; sometimes I went by myself, it depended if this friend that was with me, my friend that's in her 70s, if she could come, she would come with me. But I always felt a bit guilty because it's a long day - it was eight hours - and you're just sat in a room. I mean, it's quite comfortable there, and they come round with sandwiches and tea, but even so it's pretty boring if you're just sat there all day, and I didn't mind not having somebody, I was alright on my own. 

It was comfortable but yes, people didn't really talk. Most of them had people with them and they didn't really chat. I got chatting to one man that was in there a couple of times, but I used to just doze off in the chair and read a book and do some crosswords and things like that, and just sort of sit there and think, 'hhmmm, boring'.

Was warned that she might have cancer, which the operation confirmed.

I went to see the gynaecologist the following week, he did an internal examination and poked my tummy about, and said that, it could be fibroids but he thought it was more serious, and that he wanted me in' that was on the Tuesday' he wanted me in on the Thursday for a hysterectomy, which was all a bit sudden. But I was in quite a lot of pain so in a way I was quite glad. He did mention the word 'cancer' at the time, but I had already sort of thought in my mind that that was probably the worst outcome it could be.

So I went in on the Thursday, had my hysterectomy, was really ill afterwards because I don't take anaesthetics very well, and about three days after I had the operation, they came and told me that it was ovarian cancer. Very matter-of-factly just stood at the end of the bed and told me, which was a bit of a shock. 

Her hair grew back differently after chemotherapy.

And the other thing that's happened is it's gone very dark. I was quite grey before this, and I've gone about three shades darker, which is quite nice actually! 

But when it grows back it grows back differently. It's beautiful, it's like baby hair, but it was much curlier when it grew back the second time, so' I don't know if that's just the effect the drugs have on it, but it was quite nice having it curly and really nice condition. 

Had homeopathy, reflexology, reiki and massage, all of which helped her to feel better.

I had homoeopathy - is that how you pronounce it? - homeopathy, and I had reflexology for six months as well. And I had Reiki. I don't know whether any of them actually helped but they made me feel better in myself! They certainly made me feel more relaxed. And my friend that came with me right at the beginning who works at a hospice, she's a trained aromatherapist, so I've had some massage as well. It certainly helps - it makes you feel better in yourself. Whether it actually fights the disease or not, I don't know. But it worked for me, so'.

Was determined to remain positive but acknowledged that had been hard when the cancer returned.

This time round it's been a lot harder because physically I've been so low, and it's been a lot harder to keep a smile on my face, but I have managed. I don't want to make out that I'm a saint or anything because I'm not, and I do have my moments of tears and 'Oh why does it have to be like this?', but on the whole I have kept as positive as possible, and I will carry on doing that until they tell me that they can't go any further. And even then I won't give up.

Describes the difficulties and costs of obtaining travel insurance when you have had cancer.

Have there been any other financial implications? You mentioned travel insurance to me earlier.

Yes, going on holiday, travel insurance is difficult. You have to search around for a company and then you literally have to pay through the nose for it, or if the premium is reasonable, your excess is' You have to pay the first thousand pounds, so if you are taken ill while you're abroad it costs you a fortune. That's one difficulty. But I have been on about four foreign holidays. I haven't let it stop me! But it is' that is difficult, that sort of thing. 

Obtained sick pay from her employer and payments from critical illness and income protection insurance policies.

So have you lost a lot of income or are you on sickness benefit?

Well, my contract as such is I'm on full pay for 100 days and half-pay for 100 days, but I was very lucky because about four years ago, somebody came and did all my finances, went through my finances, and I had Critical Illness Insurance and an Income Protection Insurance, so I had quite a big lump sum payout from one insurance company, and my Income Protection makes up to sixty per cent of my salary, so when I go on to half salary and when they stop paying me if I don't go back to work, I will still have a reasonable income. Not as much as I would if I was working, but certainly, financially I will be reasonably, solvent. Won't be obviously as much as if I was working, but I won't be destitute.
 

Talks about the costs of travelling to London for hospital appointments and the pros and cons of using hospital transport.

The travelling up and down, I've had to go in and out of London, and I don't get any help with that, so I've had to pay all the fares for that, which has been, you know, it's quite expensive going in and out of London, but I haven't got anywhere locally. 

I could have transport - I have had transport home a couple of times, but the problem with that is, if there are other people in your area, you have to go at seven o'clock in the morning, and you're there all day. So in a way I'd rather pay, go by train, and be a law unto myself as to what time I go and what time I come back. But, I don't think it's financially it's affecting me any other way really.