‘I’m incredibly lucky that it was caught so early’
MUM-OF-TWO IN WARNING TO WOMEN OVER ‘SILENT KILLER’
A BLAYDON yoga instructor has spoken out about the “silent killer” cancer that took her completely by surprise.
Julia Carr, 53, teaches a range of yoga and pilates classes. Last September though, the mum-of-two was diagnosed with high-grade endometrial cancer.
Shockingly, she barely had symptoms and now is warning women to be especially vigilant of changes to their body.
She initially saw a medic thinking the mild spotting she had experienced might be related to the menopause – but after getting checked out, she was diagnosed with cancer.
Now she has made a full recovery following a hysterectomy and radiotherapy. Julia said she was even back doing pilates and yoga within a fortnight.
Julia said: “In August last year I was diagnosed with high-grade endometrial cancer. The day before, I had taught 14 classes. I feel really fortunate – I hadn’t felt anything was wrong with me at all.
“My symptoms were incredibly mild – I simply had some mild spotting and thought it could be to do with menopause. But I saw a medic and they said did I want to get all of the tests done. A couple of weeks later I was told to come in.
Within a couple of days I had a full hysterectomy.
“And because of it being high-grade, I then had radiotherapy. I was very lucky that the cancer was caught at stage one. I’m 53 and I’m incredibly lucky that it was caught so early and I want to highlight to women that if they feel anything wrong – whether they’re menopausal or peri-menopausal or what – to get it checked out.
“It’s a silent killer. I was fit and healthy, doing everything as normal just the day before being diagnosed. I would never have thought it would be cancer.”
Now she is set to take part in the Newcastle Pretty Muddy 5k next weekend with supporters and colleagues at the Inline Fitness gym in Blaydon. Julia – who said she had received “amazing” care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital – said staying as healthy as possible – including with her yoga and Pilates – had been helpful in getting her through her treatment.