Joan Francis Boyle was injured while insulating the ceiling of a shed at her home in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, and was rushed to A&E after being barely able to move.
A mum who thought she had torn due to a DIY project was shocked to learn she had an aggressive form of uterine cancer.
Joan Francis Boyle, 65, was taken to A&E after being barely able to move due to her injuries at home. She was insulating the ceiling of her cabin when she felt pain in her back.
An MRI scan revealed that mum-of-two Joanne had a displaced disc in her back, but it also revealed she had a large tumor in her uterus. She was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, a slow-growing cancer that develops in the muscular wall of the uterus, last month. Her biopsy revealed that Joan had a mutation in her p53 gene that allows cancer cells to grow and spread quickly throughout the body.
Speaking from her home in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Joanne said: “When the consultant came and told me they had found a mass in my uterus, I thought I was dealing with the wrong patient. I was there,” he said. As a result, I could barely move and was in pain.
“I was told I would have to wait for a gynecological referral. They also couldn’t do surgery on my back because the disc had shifted sideways and there was a risk of damaging the nerves during the surgery and leaving me paralyzed.”
“After being in hospital for 16 days, I just wanted to go home, so I was discharged while I was waiting for a referral for a uterus scan. I had to wait until February for tests to confirm that the mass was cancerous. I had to wait.”
Doctors then told Joanne, a hypnotherapist, about the p53 gene mutation, and she is still waiting for a hysterectomy. The Daily Record reports there could be a three-month wait.
“I'm worried it will be buried by then. The NHS is under enormous pressure. My husband Alan is an ambulance driver so I know that first-hand,” Joanne continued. Ta. While awaiting surgery, her mother and her family began researching treatments to boost her immune system. Her friends have rallied together to set up her JustGiving page in hopes of raising £45,000 for her personal treatment.
Joanne added: “I started looking for ways to give my immune system a fighting chance and prepare for surgery. I came across dendritic cell therapy at a private clinic in Birmingham. It should help us identify and kill them,” he added. ”
To donate to Joanne's appeal, click here.