Sylvia Hughes, a 63-year-old mother of six from Ellesmere Port, was told she had just 12 months to live after being diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer on December 22, 2021. Five years later, she is still here.
Her diagnosis followed months of stomach pains, bloating and rapid weight loss. She had been experiencing pain in several parts of her abdomen, including beneath her ribs and around her groin, but initially thought it could be linked to her gall bladder.
At the time, Sylvia and her family were already dealing with the loss of her husband's daughter, who was in hospital with end-stage heart failure. The family took turns spending 24 hours at the hospital with her before she died on September 7, 2021.
A devastating diagnosis before Christmas
A few weeks later, Sylvia developed a small prolapse and went to see her GP. During the examination, the doctor noticed a lump and referred her for further investigation. After undergoing an examination and a scan, she received the news that she had ovarian cancer, just days before Christmas.
She told the ECHO: “When the doctor was talking to me, I just switched off because she was waffling on and on. And then all of a sudden she told me I had ovarian cancer. All I thought was, ‘Oh my God, that's a silent killer.’”
“They told me I had a year to live. They couldn't operate and they said they didn't think the chemotherapy would work. I was absolutely devastated. Getting diagnosed right before Christmas, the first one without Sarah around, was really awful.”
Staying positive for her children
Despite the prognosis, Sylvia has now lived with the disease for almost five years. She has undergone chemotherapy on and off throughout that time and said having a plan to follow has helped her cope with the uncertainty. She has tried to remain positive for her children and wider family, even when faced with difficult news about her own health.
She said: "I've accepted what's wrong with me. I stay positive for my children. If I was a quivering wreck, they wouldn't have been able to cope. I don't mind having ovarian cancer; it's who I am now. I don't know who I'd be if I didn't have it."
Support from the hospice
Earlier this year, Sylvia was told she would be moved onto chemotherapy tablets. Her consultant warned her that if the treatment did not work, there would be no other options available. After treatment at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, she was later told there was nothing more that could be done for her. Despite the prognosis, and the cancer spreading to her liver, she is still here. Sylvia was again given a year prognosis on April 30 this year, but she says she is "determined to live longer".
Sylvia is now supported by the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, which has helped her through some of the darkest moments. She describes the hospice as her “safe haven” and said staff and volunteers have become like an extended family.
Five years after being told she had just 12 months to live, Sylvia is still making memories with the people she loves. Her daughter Lucy got married two years ago, and last year Sylvia was asked to give a friend away at her wedding. She hopes her story will encourage other people not to ignore persistent symptoms, particularly stomach pain and bloating.
She said: "If you're worried about something, go to the GP. Make sure you get it taken seriously."
