Welsh Mother Fights Cervical Cancer After Years of Dismissed Symptoms

The Long Battle for Diagnosis

Jessica Mason from Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan spent years going back and forth to her GP and hospital with swelling, bleeding and pain in her vagina, experiencing symptoms that became serious in 2019 . The 44-year-old believes she was only referred for an MRI because she "broke down in tears" to a doctor, adding: "I knew there was something wrong."

Doctors gave her ultrasounds which did not pick up any issues, and she was also given various diagnoses including a cyst, endometriosis and prolapse. Jessica said doctors told her "there was something on the lining of the womb but it all looked OK," but she begged them to do something more to check what could be causing her symptoms as she felt she "wasn't being believed" .

What made Jessica's situation particularly troubling was that she had received a clear smear test just six months before her cancer diagnosis, yet her tumor was 6.5 centimeters - about the size of a tennis ball . It was only when she demanded further investigation that doctors offered her an MRI as a way to give her "peace of mind," with the results coming back a couple of weeks later in June 2022 .

A Devastating Discovery and Grueling Treatment

"Cancer didn't cross my mind to be honest, I thought it would be something like an infection, I didn't think it was going to be that serious," Jessica recalled. In fact, the doctor told her that she had stage 1 B3 cervical cancer and needed to start treatment urgently .

Jessica started a programme of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in August 2022 for five weeks. The treatment took its toll on her 13-year-old son and also pushed her into early menopause, meaning she had to give up her plans to have another child . But that wasn't the end of Jessica's ordeal - after a further MRI in February 2023 found the tumour was still there, she needed to have a hysterectomy in July 2023 .

The fear of not surviving was so real that Jessica rushed and planned her wedding and made a will in case she didn't survive . Jessica used to work full time but said she could now only manage three days a week. "It took over our lives. My body is wrecked from everything I've been through but mentally too, my friends, my family, my home life, everything just revolves around that" .

Ongoing Struggles and Legal Action

Jessica said she still experienced bleeding occasionally and will need further biopsies, describing the situation as "never-ending." "I've always got this worry in the back of my head, what if they miss something again and this time I don't survive it?"

The woman with cervical cancer who waited years to be diagnosed says she has "lost her faith in doctors." "It's horrible because obviously I'm not a medical expert and you've got to put your faith in them but I'm always questioning them" . She has accused the health board of "dragging their heels" over sharing her medical records while she considers whether to take legal action against them. Jessica is now seeking legal action and has instructed lawyers to investigate her care .

A Broader Healthcare Crisis

A Senedd health committee report into gynaecological cancer has found women have been "let down by the Welsh government's inaction." The Welsh government said it was working with the NHS to improve gynaecological cancer outcomes . Jessica has become a supporter of Claire's Campaign, which was launched by Claire O'Shea, who was diagnosed with gynecological cancer two years after raising concerns with a GP. She died aged 42 last May. The campaign, which says women are too often dismissed, unheard or misdiagnosed, seeks to improve health services in Wales for women living with cancer .

Jessica's story highlights the critical importance of persistent self-advocacy in healthcare. Her experience serves as a stark reminder that patients know their own bodies best, and that dismissing persistent symptoms can have life-altering consequences. As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with diagnostic delays, Jessica's journey underscores the need for medical professionals to listen more carefully to patient concerns and pursue thorough investigations when symptoms persist.