Couple bonds over same cancer journey

By Josie Adnitt via SWNS

A couple had the same cancer surgery exactly a year apart – and say the experience brought them closer together.

Lorraine Wheeler, 61, and Jann Hadfield, 62, were both diagnosed with endometrial cancer within 12 months of one another.

They even had surgery on the same date one year apart – and believe the same surgeon may have been present for both operations.

The pair, who have been together for over 20 years, say the experience has bought them even closer together.

Thankfully, both Lorraine and Jann have now recovered from the cancer following surgery and radiotherapy.

And Lorraine says she now wants to raise awareness of the symptoms of endometrial cancer as despite being the fourth most common cancer in women, the disease is rarely discussed.

Endometrial cancer – also known as uterine cancer – is most common in women who have experienced menopause and develops in the lining of the womb.

Lorraine, a student services manager from Romsey, Hants., said: “One in 36 UK females will be diagnosed with endometrial or uterine cancer - you hear about the other women's cancers but endometrial isn’t one that’s talked about a lot.

“It has been life changing for me and for Jann.

"You reflect on what you want going forwards and now we just want to enjoy each day and be happy.

“Because we both had the same thing, we could help each other and understand, we’re just so grateful we caught it in time.

“It’s brought us even closer together, we’re always looking out for each other as well - if we’re not feeling great, we’re there to pick each other up.

"I can’t believe how quickly a year has gone by.

"I still find it hard to believe I've had cancer, it’s a very difficult time when you’re diagnosed – our lives were put on hold."

Jann, from Eastleigh, Hamps., said: "I was shattered, I was absolutely shattered.

"I'm a clinician and in the science business so I know the statistics.

"I pushed to have the biopsy done as quickly as possible and as soon as the surgeon saw it he said there’s something wrong here.

"Even if you know the system inside out, it’s nerve-wracking when it happens to you.

"I was astounded because of the statistics for us to be operated on a year apart with exactly the same stage 1B endometrial cancer."

Jann first had an inkling something was wrong when she began to experience post-menopausal bleeding in summer 2021.

The healthcare professional visited her GP and was referred to the hospital for tests – and in October 2021 was told she had endometrial cancer.

On 23 November 2021 she underwent a full hysterectomy at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

But tragically six weeks later at a follow-up appointment she was told the cancer cells had spread through the walls of the endometrium and she would need to have brachytherapy – a type of internal radiotherapy.

And after starting the treatment in January 2022 she made a full recovery.

However, in September 2022 Lorraine noticed she was also experiencing post-menopausal bleeding.

And when Jann encouraged her to visit the doctor, she booked an appointment and underwent a biopsy.

Not expecting anything serious, Lorraine was shocked when she received the results in October and discovered she too had endometrial cancer.

Even more surprisingly, when she received the date for her hysterectomy and realised it was the same date as her partners just one year later – 23 November 2022.

And six weeks later she returned for a follow-up only to be told the cancer had spread through the endometrial wall – and that she would also need brachytherapy.

Thankfully, Lorraine has also made a full recovery and now the couple say they want to raise awareness of the common cancer.

She said: "I think if I hadn’t of known about endometrial cancer symptoms and signs, I probably wouldn’t have gone to the doctor.

“It was only because Jann had it and I had to learn a lot about this sort of cancer that when I first had symptoms, I thought I had to get it checked out.

“But if I'd left it longer, it was starting to breakthrough the endometrium and was heading towards other major organs.

“So had I waited a further six months to a year who knows what would have happened – she saved my life really.”

Jann said: "It was just quite strange how it worked out for us, I knew something was wrong.

"The doctor said if you’re going to get any kind of cancer, this is the cancer you want – it has good survival rates.

"[When Lorraine was diagnosed] I knew something was wrong and said she had to go and check, she didn’t want to at first.

"If there’s blood when there shouldn’t be you should go and get that checked - I'm so glad I persuaded Lorraine to.

"Thankfully they whip it all out with the hysterectomy but I had a spot on my lung that they were a little nervous about so I go for regular CT scans and I’m now coming up to two years to the date – two years is a good milestone."