When Jess Woods initially complained of stomach discomfort and issues with her bladder and bowels six years ago, people started to worry about her health. While her mother Paula believed the 28-year-old could have polycystic ovarian syndrome, doctors suggested the woman may have gallstones.
But the true source of her ongoing pain wasn’t identified by surgeons until she underwent a full gall bladder removal at Royal Liverpool Hospital in February. Paula, 52, described the tremendous feeling she had when Jess’s family learned that Jessica had grade 3 ovarian cancer.
It struck us with a sledgehammer. I screamed when I met her and heard she had cancer after she called me weeping, the woman told the Liverpool Echo. “Everyone came to a complete halt. Everyone turned to face me and did so.
“Jess was seeing the doctor often, and she eventually began to believe that she was being too dramatic and that it was all in her brain. She was in such much pain that she even ended up in A&E on a few occasions. Her back was also affected by the ache in her stomach.
“Gallstones and gallbladder issues were cited as the cause. However, when it came time for the procedure, they discovered her gallbladder was healthy. It was a slow-progressing, low-grade malignancy. It will be a while before Warrington resident Jess, who had her first round of chemotherapy at Halton General Hospital this month, receives an update.
Tragically, she was informed that there is no treatment for her illness. Jess doesn’t want to worry us, Paula added. We know it won’t ever go away, but as a mother, all you want to do is wrap your arms around her and reassure her that everything will be well.
It can be managed but not cured. It has crossed a line. It crossed her belly directly, by her colon, and beneath her liver. It develops gradually, like moss. “She has inquired how much time she has left, but they are unable to answer her. They told me, among other things, that some of their patients have been receiving their care for 30 to 40 years, so it’s unknown.
“I attempt to dismiss it from my thoughts as if it were not occurring, but it is. It’s true. Due to her sickness, Jess is now unable to go to work and must rely only on an electric scooter to move about.
To help her out financially while she receives treatment, her friend Melloney O’Hare organized a fund-raiser. Jess can no longer walk very far due to discomfort, according to Paula. She makes an effort not to get discouraged.
She even intended to return to work right away following the chemotherapy, but she has since been informed that she is too unwell to do so. She is most frustrated by the fact that she has limited options. She has never been one to stay idle; she is constantly sociable.
“Jess has always been a go-getter and an extremely ambitious person. She is a person of strong character. She is extremely kind and very lively. She is full of life. “That’s what worries her; she’s asking herself, ‘What life have I got left?'” She has always desired to travel, therefore to her, everything is being rushed.
Paula, a resident of Liverpool, Merseyside, has now pushed other young girls to take a stance if they suspect anything is wrong, similar to what Jess did. Never give in, she advised. Do not allow yourself to believe that your theatrical behavior is all in your brain.
“There are far too many instances of individuals receiving a diagnosis when it was already too late. “I’m even more angry at myself now because I was one of those people who thought she was being overly anxious and now she’s been diagnosed with cancer that’s spread throughout her body.”
“We’re trying to stay optimistic,” she continued. Although there is hope, the oncologist noted that we are all unique. “Jess looks to be improving throughout the course of the days, but every time she receives therapy, she falls back down. But we’re trying to be upbeat. It’s all we have.