Sally-Anne Hawkins, 39, from Portsmouth, has spoken about how a collapse in the bath led to a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, after she initially mistook her symptoms for bloating. Friends had even asked if she was pregnant before a tumour she did not know she had burst while she was trying to relax in the bath.
Rising cancer rates in under-50s
Her story comes as new statistics show a rise in cancer cases among under-50s in the UK, which the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) called "concerning" and said should make people "pause and think". According to statistics released this week by the charity, 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 also found that between the early 1990s and 2019, overall cancer rates in 25–49-year-olds in the country increased by 24%.
Sally-Anne, an account manager, told Creatorzine: "It's such a worrying time for those under 50, as our symptoms are always brushed under the carpet. For me, personally, when I had ovarian cancer, I didn't know, as I had no symptoms relevant to cancer." She added that people are often told they have irritable bowel syndrome or something general, and that it can be hard to get an appointment or be taken seriously, especially when you are under 50.
'I had no relevant symptoms'
Sally-Anne's battle with cancer was initially diagnosed as food poisoning in April 2024. She originally put it down to weight gain, but feared something worse when she began experiencing pain in her pelvis and 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. Sadly, there was a 75% chance it would return.
'I wish I listened to my body'
Sally-Anne 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." Now, she 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.
"Life is good now," she said. "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."
