PAULINE IS ON THE MISSION OF HER LIFE

After Pauline Donnelly was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she embarked on a journey of treatment and radical surgery. Now cancer-free, she describes her recovery as a ‘miracle’ and is part of a campaign to spread awareness of the disease among women across Northern Ireland.

By Maureen Coleman

Almost five years ago, Pauline Donnelly’s world was turned upside down when she received a shock diagnosis of stage four ovarian cancer.

The Swatragh-born mum of three grown up children had been experiencing fatigue, abdominal discomfort and urinary issues for a while, but she put these symptoms down to the stress of the Covid pandemic and possible urinary tract infections.

However, on April 9, 2021 – the day of her son’s birthday – Pauline booked an appointment with her doctor who red flagged her for further investigations after blood test results raised the alarm. Within weeks, Pauline, who was 57 at the time, had undergone an ultrasound scan, which revealed she had ovarian cancer and a biopsy, showing the cancer had spread throughout her abdomen, onto her bowel and into the nodes around her oesophagus andheart.

By this stage, Pauline was very ill and facing a treatment plan of chemotherapy and major surgery. It was a dark and extremely challenging time and her family, friends and local community rallied around to support her. She also reached out to the charity Target Ovarian Cancer (TOC), who provided invaluable support and eventually inspired Pauline and several other women to set up an action group in Northern Ireland.

Now Pauline is on a mission to raise awareness about ovarian cancer, its symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis. The TOC team is also campaigning to dispel myths around ovarian cancer and have had meetings with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to this end. In 2023, they presented the results of a Pathfinder study to Stormont that revealed half of the women in Northern Ireland believe cervical screening (smear testing) can pick up ovarian cancer. This is one of the inaccuracies the group wishes to address.

After two years and five months on maintenance drugs, Pauline is cancer-free. There were times, she admits, that she didn’t think she would be here to see her daughter marry or that she would survive an incurable diagnosis, so she feels ‘beyond blessed’. She now wants to share her story to coincide with Ovarian Cancer Month in March, to help inform women across Northern Ireland about the disease and what to look out for.

“Fitness has always been a big part of my life and in 2021 I was exercising more than usual because of the pandemic,” explains Pauline, who lives at Upperlands with husband Declan.

“There was an awful tiredness hanging over me and when I went out walking, I had this funny feeling in my abdomen; not really a pain but like something was moving about.

“One of my sisters, who’s a nurse, encouraged me to book an appointment with my doctor to get checked. I wasn’t bloated at this stage but was having to run to the toilet to pass urine a lot. Everything felt a bit off kilter, but I put it down to a UTI.

“On April 9, I rang to book an appointment. When I was seen, I had blood tests done. The CA 125 blood test (which measures a protein often elevated in ovarian cancer) came back and was 3,700. The normal range is between zero and 35, so the lab rang my doctor to alert her. She was on the ball straight away.”

Pauline had an ultrasound scan at Mid Ulster Hospital and from there, things escalated quickly. Further tests were carried out at Antrim Area Hospital and Pauline was given the shock news that she had ovarian cancer. Around this time, she began to feel very unwell and then the biopsy revealed that the cancer had spread. It was a lot to take in, and it took at least a week for the reality to hit home.

“The weird thing, that first week, it just didn’t sink in,” recalls Pauline.

“It took a while, then when the reality hit, I just felt terribly sad. I was only 57 and still had a lot of living to do. I have two sons and a daughter, and I’d always imagined seeing my daughter getting married.

“It was a very dark time, and I was in a dark place. It was during the pandemic too, so nothing felt normal.

“Looking back, I think it was even harder for my husband. He was distraught. I knew I was going to have treatment and there was hope. But it wasn’t an easy journey for any of us.”

Pauline was due to have chemotherapy at the Cancer Centre in Belfast City Hospital before she could be deemed suitable for surgery but there were several blips along the way before she could begin treatment. Firstly, she had to have fluid drained from her abdomen at Antrim Area Hospital but then she took a reaction to antibiotics, which impacted her liver function and further delayed treatment.

“I was begging them to get me started, because I was feeling so unwell by now,” she says.

“I remember saying ‘If you don’t start me, I won’t make it’. I was terrified.”

After another fluid drainage, Pauline finally began her chemo treatment at the Cancer Centre, undergoing four rounds. It was tough, but she continued to try and get out for short walks each day. Target Ovarian Cancer was on hand for support and advice and Declan, a biologist, had started to carry out his own research. When the oncology team in Belfast said there was still too much cancer in Pauline’s body to allow for surgery, Declan contacted the Christie Hospital in Manchester, the largest single site cancer centre in Europe. The anxious couple had to wait a month before they heard back from the Christie; the darkest period of Pauline’s cancer journey. But then word came and it was positive. Oncologists there confirmed that if Pauline was indeed their patient, they would press ahead with surgery, given her general health and fitness. This information was passed onto Pauline’s medical team in Belfast who agreed to the surgery. It was another waiting game, but she had come this far and was mentally prepared for what was ahead.

“It took me a long time to get to the operating table as this was during the pandemic and only seven surgeries a week were slotted in,so I really had to fight for my slot,” she recalls.

“I was like a child, sitting there with my bag packed, ready for the call.”

There were a few false starts but finally, at the end of September, Pauline was booked in for her radical hysterectomy. It was a long operation, but the surgeon was pleased with how it went and told Declan that he was pleasantly surprised to see less cancer than expected. Pauline remained in hospital for 10 days and basically had to learn to walk again; taking tiny steps in the ward and building up her fitness slowly after she was discharged.

She had two more cycles of chemotherapy and was put on maintenance drugsuntil June 2024. A follow-up scan showed no sign of the disease and six-monthly blood tests also confirmed she is cancer-free. She continues to have regularblood tests.

Life is good again for Pauline. She watched her daughter marry last March and is thrilled that she is going to be a grandmother this year. Declan is still very much her ‘rock’ and she’s been touched by the support and love she has received from family, friends and even strangers in her community.

Her focus now is on raising awareness about ovarian cancer and the significance of early diagnosis. She and other representatives of Target Ovarian Cancer recently met with Mike Nesbitt again, who has agreed to take part in a promotional video for them.

She believes being part of the awareness raising campaign is her ‘purpose’ now and that it is nothing short of a miracle that she is cancer-free.

“When I think of where I was at the start of the diagnosis to where I am now, I honestly believe it’s a miracle,” she says.

“I’ve come a long way and I truly feel beyond blessed.”

SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer are persistent and frequent (they usually happen over 12 times a month).

Persistent bloating – not bloating that comes and goes.

Feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite.

Pelvic or abdominal pain.

Urinary symptoms (needing to wee mor urgently or more often).

OCCASIONALLY THERE CAN BE OTHER SYMPTOMS

Changes in bowel habits.

Extreme fatigue.

Unexplained weight loss.

Any bleeding after menopause should always be investigated by a GP.

OVARIAN CANCER FACTFILE

• Around 200 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Northern Ireland each year.
• More women die of ovarian cancer in the UK than from all other gynaecological cancers combined. 
• In Northern Ireland, just 30 per cent of women are diagnosed at an early stage (stage one), when outcomes are generally much better.
• There is low awareness of ovarian cancer with just four per cent of women in Northern Ireland being very confident in naming the symptoms.
• 46 per cent of women in Northern Ireland wrongly believe that cervical screening detects ovarian cancer. 
• 19 per cent of women with ovarian cancer in Northern Ireland reported visiting their GP three or more times before being referred for tests.