Sally-Anne Hawkins, 39, from Portsmouth, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after collapsing in the bath when a tumour burst, following symptoms she initially mistook for food poisoning.
Friends had asked if she was pregnant because she was so bloated. She was in the bath trying to relax after pelvic pain had started when she suddenly collapsed – a tumour had 'burst', and she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Rising cancer rates in younger women
Her story comes after the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) this week said the rates of women aged under 50 diagnosed with womb cancer increased from 1.8 per 100,000 in 2001 to 3.9 per 100,000 in 2023.
Cancer Research UK found that between the early 1990s and 2019, overall cancer rates in 25–49-year-olds in the country increased by 24%.
“It’s such a worrying time for those under 50, as our symptoms are always brushed under the carpet,” said Sally-Anne, an account manager from Portsmouth.
Bath incident leads to diagnosis
For Sally-Anne, her battle with cancer was initially diagnosed as food poisoning in April 2024. She originally put it down to weight gain, though feared something worse was going on when a pain in her pelvis began, along with needing the toilet every 15 minutes.
Then the bath incident changed everything. She said: “I staggered downstairs screaming for help. I was in agony and vomiting whenever I moved. I could barely take it in. It was a moment of total shock [when they said I had cancer].
“I never thought it could be that; but, looking back, I had all four main symptoms, though never put it down to this.”
After being rushed to hospital, a CT scan revealed that her right ovary had twisted and had a grapefruit-sized mass on it. It was ovarian cancer. A week later, surgery was carried out to remove her right ovary, and her womb was washed out to remove any leftover matter from the tumour.
Raising awareness of BEAT
Sadly, there was a 75% chance it would return. She said: “I refused to go through it all again. My partner, Andy, and I didn’t want kids, so I made the decision to have my remaining ovary removed. When they found another tumour, I knew I had made the right choice.”
Sally-Anne is sharing her story to raise awareness and support the acronym BEAT, which stands for bloating, eating difficulties, abdominal pain and toilet changes.
Currently, she’s having follow-up scans every six months. She added: “Life is good now. I have a new outlook on life and read a saying which I live by: ‘People say you only live once, but you actually live every day and only die once.’
“Looking back, I wish I listened more to my body. Keep pushing – you know your body.”
