A woman from West Sussex who believed she was suffering from severe menstrual cramps was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, leading to the removal of eight organs. Faye Louise, 39, initially experienced heavy periods and painful cramps, but the pain extended to a week before and after her period earlier this year.
After an ultrasound and CT scan in March 2023, doctors discovered a 17cm cyst on her left ovary and a swollen appendix. While the cyst was benign, surgeons found a second cancerous tumour in her appendix during the operation. The cancer later developed into pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a rare and potentially fatal malignancy.
In November 2023, Faye underwent extensive surgery at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, where her gallbladder, spleen, appendix, small bowel, ovaries, uterus, part of her liver, and peritoneal lining were removed. Heated chemotherapy was applied directly to her abdomen to kill remaining cancer cells.
Faye is now cancer-free but has entered early menopause and faces a recovery period of three to six months. She said: 'I feel like I have stared death in the face. I had cancer for four to five years before I was diagnosed and had no idea.'
She hopes to raise awareness about PMP and the specialist care at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, stating: 'The team there are amazing. They made me cancer free which is something that felt impossible when I first got diagnosed.'
