Pet cat Humbug was the cat-alyst to get a GP check up
When ovarian cancer patient Gill Kelly’s story first appeared in her local newspaper, she became a media star overnight.
“ A media frenzy broke out with local and national papers all wanting an interview as well as BBC Look North,” she told guests at a Yorkshire Cancer Community coffee morning.
The reason for the interest was because it was Gill’s cat Humbug who had playfully jumped and landed on Gill’s stomach. The painful reaction prompted Gill to visit her GP which ultimately resulted in her cancer diagnosis and life saving operation.
Gill, a former special needs teaching assistant from Huddersfield, had initially dismissed her symptoms of feeling bloated and tired as more to do with her age than anything else. She put down weight gain and discomfort to being menopausal and never gave it any more thought.
Prompt action by the GP meant she was referred for surgery and did not need chemotherapy.
Gill’s Mum was also going through ovarian cancer and staying positive about her outlook. Sadly her Mum took a turn for the worse in January 2018, and Gill nursed her for her final weeks.
Gill said she struggled to deal with her Mum’s death and her own cancer diagnosis. She was unable to continue the role she loved, working with special needs children and felt the world as she knew it, had crashed.
The turning point was when a Macmillan nurse suggested she attend a Health and Wellbeing event organised by the Macmillan team from Calderdale and Huddersfield Hospitals for cancer patients and carers. The session discusses life beyond cancer and looks at the role of diet, exercise, fatigue and psychological support.
“It was an epiphany. I realised that all the people going in were just like me. Here was a space where I could say just what I wanted without worrying about upsetting my friends and family.
“I thought I can take control again,” she explained.
Gill also volunteered for a photo shoot for the charity Ovacome and took part in a fashion show with other ovarian cancer patients.
Gill continues to raise awareness of ovarian cancer in memory of her Mum, volunteers for Cats Protection and sits on the West Yorkshire & Harrogate Cancer Alliance Community Panel.