Jessica Mason
Jessica says women-specific well being points are too typically dismissed
A lady with cervical cancer who waited years to be recognized says she has “lost her faith in doctors”.
Jessica Mason went forwards and backwards to her GP and hospital with swelling, bleeding and ache in her vagina however says she was “fobbed off” earlier than “begging” for a scan which revealed cancer requiring pressing therapy.
The 44-year-old believes she was solely referred for an MRI as a result of she “broke down in tears” to a physician, including: “I knew there was something wrong.”
A Senedd well being committee report into gynaecological cancer has discovered girls have been “let down by the Welsh government’s inaction”. The Welsh authorities mentioned it was working with the NHS to enhance gynaecological cancer outcomes.
‘I wasn’t being believed’
Jessica, from Penarth within the Vale of Glamorgan, was experiencing ache and vaginal bleeding which turned critical in 2019.
“I knew there was something wrong,” she mentioned.
She mentioned docs gave her ultrasounds which didn’t decide up any points, and she or he was additionally given varied diagnoses together with a cyst, endometriosis and prolapse, for which she was suggested to carry out pelvic ground workout routines.
“It was so confusing because you trust in the doctors and you think if it was something serious they would have known,” she mentioned.
Jessica Mason
Jessica with her husband, Dan
Jessica mentioned a smear take a look at six months earlier than she was recognized additionally picked up nothing.
It was solely in May 2022 when she went to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for the outcomes of an ultrasound that she broke down in tears.
“They said there was something on the lining of the womb but it all looked OK,” mentioned Jessica, who begged them to do one thing extra to verify what could possibly be inflicting her signs as she felt she “wasn’t being believed”.
“It was only at that point they offered me an MRI,” she added, which she mentioned was supplied as a solution to give her “peace of mind”.
The outcomes got here again a pair of weeks later in June 2022.
“Cancer didn’t cross my mind to be honest, I thought it would be something like an infection, I didn’t think it was going to be that serious.”
In truth the physician informed her that she had stage 1 B3 cervical cancer and wanted to start out therapy urgently.
Jessica began a programme of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in August 2022 for 5 weeks.
Jessica Mason
Jessica says cancer therapy brought about her to have an early menopause
Jessica mentioned the therapy took its toll on her 13-year-old son and likewise pushed her into early menopause, which means she had to surrender her plans to have one other baby.
“I couldn’t cook and couldn’t clean, I couldn’t even iron my son’s uniform or take him to school,” she mentioned.
Jessica believes she ought to have been referred for an MRI sooner.
“The cost of the MRI is probably just as much as the amount spent on treatment, GP and doctor appointments,” she added.
But that wasn’t the tip of Jessica’s ordeal, after an additional MRI in February 2023 discovered the tumour was nonetheless there and meant she wanted to have a hysterectomy in July 2023.
“I lost my faith in the doctors,” mentioned Jessica.
“It’s horrible because obviously I’m not a medical expert and you’ve got to put your faith in them but I’m always questioning them.”
Jessica used to work full time however mentioned she may now solely handle three days every week.
“It took over our lives. My body is wrecked from everything I’ve been through but mentally too, my friends, my family, my home life, everything just revolves around that.”
Jessica mentioned she nonetheless skilled bleeding sometimes and can want additional biopsies, describing the scenario as “never-ending”.
“I’ve always got this worry in the back of my head, what if they miss something again and this time I don’t survive it?”
She has accused the well being board of “dragging their heels” over sharing her medical information whereas she considers whether or not to take authorized motion towards them.
“A lot of women-specific issues are just not recognised [quickly] enough. They just dismiss it as ‘your time of the month’ or ‘women’s issues’,” she added.
A spokesperson for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board mentioned: “We are sorry to hear about Jessica’s experience while in our care and acknowledge the challenges surrounding her cancer diagnosis.
“As it could be inappropriate to touch upon a person affected person case, and attributable to ongoing authorized proceedings, we’re unable to remark additional.”
‘Critical failures’
A recent Senedd health committee report into gynaecological cancer care in Wales found that women were “nonetheless being let down by the Welsh authorities’s inaction”.
The report found a failure to deliver on a number of recommendations made in December 2023 as part of a landmark report uncovering “essential failures”.
It said despite accepting the majority of the committee’s 2023 recommendations, the Welsh government had not allocated specific ring-fenced funding for gynaecological cancer services or published measurable NHS targets for improving outcomes.
It also found that Wales had fallen short on waiting times, with only 41% of patients starting treatment within the 62-day target in October 2025.
Cancer charity Tenovus said it was “deeply regarding to see in black and white simply how little progress has been made”.
The Welsh authorities mentioned: “We are dedicated to working with the NHS to enhance entry to well timed prognosis and therapy for girls with gynaecological cancer.
“We have made changes to support earlier referrals and we are investing in new equipment and new treatments to improve women’s outcomes.
“The present efficiency towards the 62-day goal is just not adequate and should enhance.
“The Women’s Health Plan is driving real change in women’s healthcare in Wales.”
