Karen Palin, 59, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in January 2024. The diagnosis came as a catastrophic shock for Karen, who lives in Heversham, as back in 2008 she had undergone a hysterectomy.
Karen explained how her diagnosis came about: “I’d noticed some mild spotting in my underwear and went to the GP, realising how unusual this was given I didn’t have a cervix. From there, the ball rolled quickly. I had all the scans and tests, and it was confirmed that I had cervical cancer.”
Karen underwent treatment, including six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She described this time as being akin to a rollercoaster.
“My life was consumed with treatment, tests and scans, and I really struggled with the waiting around,” she continued. “I got the good news that the treatment had been a success and I was delighted and started to get back to normal life.”
However, for Karen, like most people who have been diagnosed with cancer, normal now looked very different.
“I struggled to accept what had happened to me,” she said. “I compared my thoughts to a volcano; the lava is bubbling up inside until it erupts. I was constantly worried about the future, panicked, and couldn’t see the wood for the trees. I would worry about myself, about family members, and would be triggered by anyone talking about cancer. I was such a mess. I went to the GP and was referred to CancerCare to get some support.”
Karen had heard of CancerCare before, but never thought she’d need us. She received one-to-one counselling sessions via phone, opting for remote support so she could fit it in between work and life commitments.
“Coming to CancerCare made all the difference. I learned coping strategies that I could fall back on when I could feel myself spiralling. I was given helpful quotes that would support me when I started to hear that little rumble. I’ve stopped trying to fight it now, and learned to accept what my new normal is. The support from CancerCare helped me to not feel alone; I felt like part of the family.”
Karen is open about her experiences with cancer, advocating for others to look out for signs and symptoms: “If something isn’t right, go and act on it. My cancer was caught early, but if I hadn’t gone to get checked, I don’t know where I’d be today. Be aware of the little changes and take responsibility for your own health. It’s so important.”