By Isobel Williams
A woman had to undergo a full hysterectomy aged 34 after doctors found cervical cancer, despite her having no symptoms.
Chantel Lopez attended her routine smear test in May last year, expecting the usual letter to say that everything was fine.
However, despite having experienced no symptoms, she was asked to attend further tests, which revealed that the 34-year-old from Ashford, Kent, had stage one cervical cancer.
She says that the diagnosis came as a huge shock to all her family, as she was still very young and seemed perfectly healthy.
Chantel, who works at a construction company, said: “I had a routine smear test. I didn’t think anything of it because I had no symptoms, I just thought as I had got my letter I would go and get it done.
“Instead of the results, I found myself with an appointment with the oncology team.
“At the time I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. When they told me it was cancer, it was a little bit scary, but I just said ‘okay, what now?’
“I had heard of it happening at my age but you just never think it is going to happen to you. I think my family were more upset about it than I was.”
After discussing options with her medical team, Chantel opted for a full hysterectomy, including removal of her ovaries, to avoid the risk of ovarian cancer down the line.
The operation took place in September at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, and the recovery period was ten weeks long.
Now, Chantel is on Hormone Replacement Therapy, which will last until she is 50, and is seeing her oncologist regularly for the next five years, but she is officially cancer-free.
She said: “The surgery seemed like the best option. I just didn’t want to run the risk of getting ovarian cancer down the road if it was a possibility.
“Thankfully, I never wanted children. That’s why I am glad it was me and not my younger sister as she wants children.
“Fingers crossed that is it for me; I have to have hormone replacement therapy until I’m 50, and check-ups every six months, but it was at a very early stage so I’m lucky.
