Cervical Cancer with Karen Hobbs
In this episode, Hannah’s joined by Karen Hobbs, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer when she was 24 and went through a radical trachelectomy to have her cervix removed. Karen shares the process of diagnosis through to treatment, and how you can possibly try and process finding out you have cancer. They talk about the anatomy and role of the cervix, and whether the procedure affected Karen’s sex life or fertility. Finally, Karen discusses the stigma around gynae cancers and whether we should have smear tests earlier.
Read the episode transcript here!
SHOW NOTES
What we chat about…
How Karen found out she had cervical cancer
Dr Google - searching your symptoms online
The process of getting diagnosed through to treatment
Cervical smear test
Colposcopy
Biopsy
MRI Scan
Examination under anaesthetic
Radical trachelectomy
How do you even begin to process finding out you have cancer?
Different forms of cancer - what actually is ‘cancer’?
How Karen told people about her diagnosis
Karen feeling like an imposter when she talks about having cancer as other people have had it more severely
Where the cervix is in the body and its role
The language around cancer diagnosis
The surgery process to remove the cancer and how this affected Karen’s body
Can Karen have kids?
The difference in having sex post surgery
Cervical screenings happen at age 25 - but should it be earlier?
The taboo around gynae cancers
Causes of cervical cancer
HPV Vaccine - is it worth having?
USEFUL LINKS
Get involved in Stand Up To Cancer, with fundraising events happening for the next two weeks: https://www.standuptocancer.org.uk/get-involved
The Eve Appeal is a UK charity raising awareness about gyne cancers. Find out more about their work: https://eveappeal.org.uk/about-us/
Worried about having a smear test? Here’s some useful advice: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-47452760
MORE ABOUT KAREN HOBBS
Karen is a comedian who also works for the Eve Appeal as a Cancer Information Officer. Karen was diagnosed with cervical cancer at 24 years old, and now works to smash the stigma around gynae cancers.
Find out more about Karen on her Twitter and Instagram.