A woman dismissed her symptoms as menopause – only to discover she actually had cervical cancer. Alison Ward, 56, from West Wickham, South London, had been experiencing pink spotting – light vaginal discharge – for approximately a year before receiving her diagnosis.
She admitted she “ignored” the warning signs, believing they were menopause-related, and even delayed her routine smear test by several months. Nevertheless, when she visited her GP last October, her doctor immediately recognised that something “didn’t look right”.
The mother-of-two, who works as a childminder, required an LLETZ procedure – used to remove abnormal cervical cells and test for cancer. Startlingly, the results confirmed that Alison had Stage1B2 cervical cancer.
She received this devastating news on the very same day she discovered she had qualified to represent Team GB in the Age Group Triathlon World Championships, scheduled for the following October in Wollongong, Australia. Alison opted for a complete hysterectomy and eight weeks later, in December, she underwent the major operation.
She spent Christmas recuperating and thankfully, in January, she was declared cancer-free. Now, Alison is teaming up with Olympic cycling champion Chris Hoy on the Tour De 4 – a charity cycling event aimed at raising money for cancer organisations throughout the UK.
Alison is raising funds for Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital in London, due to the “incredible” treatment she received. Additionally, she hopes to boost awareness of cervical cancer – and urge women to seek medical attention as soon as they spot something “strange”.
Alison explained: “When I went for my smear test, I knew that I had been ignoring something. I had been seeing pink spots in the loo – probably for around a year – but I thought that maybe it was the menopause. But my GP said right away that something didn’t look right.”
She added: “Later, when I read about the symptoms for cervical cancer, it was right there. That was one of the signs. I’d encourage women everywhere to go and get checked. If you’re seeing anything strange, see a doctor. And check when your last smear test was. I waited a couple months before going after I received my most recent letter.”
Alison described the day of her diagnosis as deeply emotional – though she remained focused on “getting things sorted”.
She reflected: “It makes me really emotional to think about now. I’m getting a bit tearful – but mainly because it’s all good now. In the morning, I found out I was going to represent Team GB in the Age Group Triathlon World Championships. I was over the moon. I had worked so hard all year. And, five years ago, I never thought that I’d have been able to do it. I still can’t believe I got involved in this mad sport.”
She continued: “But in the afternoon I got my diagnosis. I just focused on the fact that I knew it was Stage1B2. I knew I was lucky. So I just thought, ‘Let’s get this done. Let’s get this sorted.'”
Alison expressed her deep appreciation for the exceptional care she received at Guy’s and St Thomas’s, as well as the unwavering support from her husband Dave and daughters Vicky, 28, and Georgie, 25. She remarked: “I went through all the scans and procedures really quickly. With the hysterectomy, I was lucky as, because of my age, I didn’t mind just going for it. But either way the care I had at Guy’s and St Thomas’ was just incredible.”
Alison added: “I had an amazing surgeon. She was great to talk to. And I always felt like I was in safe hands. So I knew I wanted to fundraise for them. Plus, they offered my daughter Georgie amazing care back when she was 16, and had a spinal operation. So they’ve always been important to us.”
Alison continues to attend check-ups every few months but has already resumed her triathlon training with enthusiasm. In October, she will be heading to Australia to compete in the Age Group Triathlon World Championships, where she will proudly represent Team GB.
However, before that, on September 7, she is participating in Chris Hoy’s Tour De 4. The Tour De 4 is designed to raise awareness about living with Stage 4 cancer and to collect funds for various cancer charities.
Alison shared: “I think I found out about it on social media and Chris Hoy is a hero of mine so I knew I had to be a part of it. It’s all about shining a spotlight on what a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis can look like – and demonstrating that it is possible to live well and lead a happy life alongside this devastating diagnosis.”
She added: “When you get a cancer diagnosis, you don’t want to think of what could happen. I knew I was lucky. I’m not living with Stage 4. But if I can do anything to help those who are, I’ll do it. Any donations are so appreciated. Everything counts.”
Alison is set to join Chris on the Red Ride, a challenging 56-mile cycle starting from the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow and stretching into the Scottish hills.
Find out more about the Tour de 4 here. You can support Alison’s fundraising efforts on GoFundMe by visiting her page here.
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