Blaydon yoga teacher highlights 'silent killer' cancer that caught her completely by surprise

A Blaydon yoga instructor has spoken out about the "silent killer" cancer that took her completely by surprise.

Julia Carr, 53, teaches a range of yoga and pilates classes. Last September though, the mum-of-two was diagnosed with high-grade endometrial cancer. Shockingly, she barely had symptoms and now is warning women to be especially vigilant of changes to their body.

She initially saw a medic thinking the mild spotting she had experienced might be related to the menopause - but after getting checked out, she was diagnosed with cancer. Since, she has made a full recovery following a hysterectomy and radiotherapy. Julia said she was even back doing pilates and yoga within a fortnight.

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Julia said: "In August last year I was diagnosed with high-grade endometrial cancer. The day before, I had taught 14 classes. I feel really fortunate - I hadn't really felt anything was wrong with me at all.

"My symptoms were incredibly mild - I simply had some mild spotting and thought it could be to do with menopause. But I saw a medic and they said did I want to get all of the tests done. A couple of weeks later I was told to come in. Within a couple of days I had a full hysterectomy.

"And because of it being high-grade, I then had radiotherapy. I was very lucky that the cancer was caught at stage one. I'm 53 and I'm incredibly lucky that it was caught so early and I want to highlight to women that if they feel anything wrong - whether they're menopausal or peri-menopausal or what - to get it checked out.

"It's a silent killer. I was fit and healthy, doing everything as normal just the day before being diagnosed. I would never have thought it would be cancer."

Now she is set to take part in the Newcastle Pretty Muddy 5k next weekend with a team of supporters and colleagues at the Inline Fitness gym in Blaydon.

Julia - who said she had received "amazing" care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital - said staying as healthy as possible - including with her yoga and Pilates - had been incredibly helpful in getting her through her treatment.

To support Julia's fundraiser in aid of Cancer Research UK, click here.