“I didn’t have any symptoms, just some stomach bloating. But after a holiday spent eating nice food, I didn’t think too much of it.”
For Andrea, 51, life before her diagnosis was active, consisting of regular pilates, running, family time with her husband and two teens, and a full-time job in the television industry. She was strong and healthy and had no reason to suspect anything serious.
As time went on, her discomfort increased, and Andrea decided to see her GP. The earliest available appointment was two weeks away, so she was advised to visit A&E, where she was sent home with a stool sample kit.
“I felt a lot of uncomfortable pressure on my organs from the bloating and was struggling to breath. I didn’t think I could wait weeks for answers.”
Instead Andrea sought out a private gynaecologist to run some tests. The next day, she got a life-changing call.
“The doctor said, ‘I’ve seen your scans and your bloods, and you need to go to A&E immediately.’”
Andrea returned to A&E and spent three weeks in and out of NHS care, feeling unwell and with no confirmed prognosis. Desperate for guidance, she reached out to a trusted gynaecologist, who recommended Mr Phadnis at The London Clinic.
Finding Clarity at The London Clinic
When Andrea met Mr. Phadnis, her first question was one that had weighed heavily on her mind: “Am I going to die?”
“He said, ‘Well, everyone dies at some point, but you’re not dying from this now and I feel confident you will be back playing tennis, running and doing all the things you love’.’’
Andrea’s diagnosis of stage 4B cancer meant that the cancer cells had spread to distant organs such as lymph nodes in her chest cavity. Historically stage 4B was considered incurable and treatment was palliative, however with improved understanding of tumour biology and advances in treatment, more women with stage 4 ovarian cancer are living longer.
When she learned she had stage four ovarian cancer, Andrea needed to understand what that meant for her future.
“Mr Phadnis just said, ‘It means I’ve got to work harder in the operating theatre, but I can get you to cancer-free.’
Before that, no one had mentioned cancer-free to Andrea.
“They were using words like treatable, not curable. But Mr Phadnis was really optimistic.”
Mr. Phadnis scheduled a biopsy and installed a drain to relieve her discomfort caused by fluid build-up, with chemotherapy set to begin the following week.
“If I’d seen him sooner, my first three weeks would have been very different. I came home feeling like a different person. I felt like I had a future.”
Mr Phadnis was focusing on ensuring Andrea’s care plan to her, discussing her case with other members of his multi-disciplinary team, including oncologist Dr Miller.
“Dr Miller- she’s incredible. She works on a lot of drug trials, so she’s at the forefront of new treatments. She was so inclusive and supportive, even inviting my children into meetings so they could understand my care better.“
Andrea had three chemotherapy rounds before her operation, and recently completed her final post-surgery chemotherapy.
“Mr Phadnis advocated for my future quality of life. I had asked him if he could operate immediately and remove all the cancer. He said, ‘That would mean a stoma. And I’m not just thinking about now, I’m thinking about what your future quality of life.’”
Andrea trusted his judgment, and the surgery was a success, with no stoma required.
“Mr. Phadnis is an amazing surgeon. I was up and climbing stairs within three days! I was back cycling a month after the operation. I’m not one to give up.”
