A paramedic has been diagnosed with terminal cancer after visiting her GP 21 times with worsening symptoms. Jules Trigg, 41, was repeatedly told she had an infection, despite suffering from severe nausea, sickness, bleeding, and pelvic pain. She was eventually diagnosed with stage four cervical cancer in June last year after multiple visits to the Homewell Curlew Practice in Havant over an 18-month period.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Following the discovery, Ms Trigg underwent several rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and brachytherapy at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. While in hospital, tragedy struck again: the paramedic, from Emsworth in Hampshire, contracted neutropenic sepsis and was hospitalised for a week. After months of intensive treatment, Ms Trigg was told the cancer, which had spread to her lymph nodes, was in decline. By January, she was almost in remission.
Cancer Returns and Spreads
However, at her latest three-monthly scan in April, the mother-of-one's oncologist informed her the disease had not only returned but had metastasised to her lungs and the lining of her abdomen. She was informed the situation 'is not curable' but that doctors would try everything they could to prolong her life. The NHS emergency responder said she was 'no longer fighting for a cure' but 'fighting for time'.
Upcoming Treatment
On Thursday, Ms Trigg will start the first of three cycles of treatment before having a CT scan to see if the cancer is responding. If the treatment works as expected, she will continue multiple cycles which can last up to two years.
Patient's Account
Ms Trigg said: 'I'd been unwell for about 18 months and I was back and forth with the GP. I went 21 times but they kept saying it was urine infections or kidney infections but then I saw someone at the hospital who suggested I have a laparoscopy to have a look at whether it was endometriosis. At that point, I told them things had got quite a bit worse so they decided they would do some investigations while I was under. I woke up in recovery and was told I had cancer - we were devastated. Things then moved very quickly as they said it had spread to my abdomen and was 3C2.'
She added: 'At my last appointment, the oncologist said it isn't a curable situation now, but he said "we're not going to throw the book at it. We're going to throw the whole damn library at it".'
Awareness and Support
Ms Trigg emphasised: 'I was up to date with all of my cervical screenings and they had all come back clear - I'd like to raise awareness of the symptoms that can sometimes be overlooked or explained away.' Her close friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help with the financial pressures as she undergoes more rounds of treatment. The page has already raised over £3,000 for the mother, her son Austin, partner Colin, and two dogs Lottie and Buddy.
Ms Trigg said: 'Knowing that we have a degree of financial security while I focus on treatment is an enormous relief.' She concluded: 'We all want to know what the prognosis is going to be, my doctor didn't want to say anything past two years but I don't think anybody really knows. I'm not looking forward to treatment but I'm not going to give up without a fight.'
The Homewell Curlew Practice in Havant has been contacted for comment.
