Fwd: Health Care Story

Hi Katy,

I saw your post on Twitter that you are collecting healthcare stories to demonstrate the shortcomings of our system. Thank you for doing that! 

Here’s my story: 

* February 2024- ultrasound showed that an ovarian teratoma I’d had for years had doubled in size over the previous 1.5 years, which was concerning. Referred to a gynaecologist. 

* May 2024- Referral was “fast tracked” but still took three months. Gynecologist scheduled me for a hysterectomy but said the wait was up to eight months long, as she was only being given one day per month in the OR.

* August 2024- because of increasing severity of symptoms (pain, water retention, bloating, fatigue), had another ultrasound that showed more indications that the teratoma was malignant. Referred for an MRI, and needed to wait while my case went before a tumour-scheduling board, where it was determined (after approx. 6 weeks) that my MRI was not urgent and was scheduled for MAY 2025, EIGHT months out.

* Paid for a private MRI in early October, which confirmed “likely malignancy.” Was referred to an oncologist. (*Paying for a private MRI likely saved my life.) 

* Appointment with oncologist was “fast-tracked” and I saw her November 26, 2024. Surgery was scheduled for December 31st. 

* When the surgeon opened me up, she found that part of the teratoma/tumour had ruptured pre-surgery (between the time the MRI was done in October and December) and spilled fluid into my abdomen. Because of this, it was possible that malignant cells were spread throughout my abdomen, and while the cancer wasn’t identified outside of my ovarian teratoma, they recommended 8 rounds of chemotherapy over six months to hopefully prevent microscopic spread.

*Chemotherapy was brutal on my body. I had multiple pulmonary embolisms, severe liver injury, and muscle spasms that prevented me from walking. I was in and out of the ER multiple times. I finished treatment in August 2025. 

* It’s now October of 2026. I still am not able to return to work. I experience significant brain fatigue and need to sleep every afternoon. I still see a haematologist, a menopause doctor, my oncologist for scans every three months, a cardiologist, an endocrinologist, and now have been referred to a rheumatologist because of the ongoing fatigue. 

If you calculate what my cancer has cost the system, it’s astounding. And I frequently wonder - if they had just done the surgery sooner, back in February or March of 2024 when the tumour’s growth first raised concern, could surgery before the tumour ruptured have spared me chemotherapy and everything that followed? Very likely. 

Not to mention the personal cost…. 

I’m 53 years old, a single mother with two teenage girls (one with chronic health issues of her own), and a third unofficial foster daughter. Prior to my diagnosis, I worked full time and paid my taxes. I don’t know when or even if I’ll ever be able to return to work. I don’t know when, or even if, I’ll ever feel like myself again. 

Anonymous