Enlli Thompson was just 19 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, a journey that included chemotherapy, a full hysterectomy, and immediate menopause. Despite the ordeal, she says the experience has changed her life for the better.
A Long Road to Diagnosis
In March 2024, Enlli first visited her GP with stomach pains and migraines. She was advised to stop taking the contraceptive pill and return if symptoms persisted. The pain worsened, and by October 2024, she attended A&E at Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Bangor, where a senior doctor ordered a CT scan that revealed a pelvic mass.
Further tests in December identified a 10cm mass. Enlli was eventually placed under the care of consultant Richard Peever's team, whom she credits with saving her life. In February 2025, she had surgery to remove an ovary and a fallopian tube, but it wasn't until March that she received an official cancer diagnosis.
Treatment and Resilience
Enlli underwent fertility treatment before a full hysterectomy in May 2025, which led to immediate menopause. She went into remission on November 6, 2025, just before her 20th birthday. Throughout treatment, she continued to work as an apprentice motor mechanic, taking paracetamol every four hours to manage the pain.
Her career path changed due to the physical toll of cancer. She moved into NHS administration but suffered burnout. Now, she is passionate about public speaking and advocating for better awareness of gynaecological cancers.
Advocacy and Awareness
Enlli has been involved with Tenovus, including a fashion show featuring participants with and without wigs. She embraces her natural curls that grew back after chemotherapy, showing that life continues during treatment.
Tenovus conducted a survey of GPs in Wales, revealing that 34% were concerned about over-referring patients. Enlli believes her diagnosis was delayed due to her age and sex, as symptoms were often attributed to anxiety or psychological factors.
She regrets not advocating for herself earlier, saying, "Maybe if I had advocated for myself earlier, it wouldn't have reached stage three."
Official Response
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "As a new government, we are taking decisive action on cancer by developing a 10-year National Cancer Strategy to transform how the health service prevents, diagnoses, and treats the disease, with a focus on earlier diagnosis."
The spokesperson added: "We are determined to ensure women's pain is taken seriously. The Deputy Minister for Women's Health recently brought together clinicians, researchers and women with lived experience at a summit to tackle the normalisation of pain in women's healthcare."
