NI mum diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer first thought to be a cyst

A Lisburn woman has opened up about her "traumatic" health ordeal which saw her receiving the news of a cancer diagnosis.

Clare Byrne is currently awaiting further treatment after she was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. The 55-year-old began to feel discomfort a number of years ago, but said it took her to "fight tooth and nail" to get to where she is today.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Clare said her health problems began in May of 2022, when she suffered with severe stomach pains.

READ MORE: Doctor who diagnosed herself with stage 4 colon cancer says there were two key signs

READ MORE: NI woman who thought extreme tiredness was due to lockdown diagnosed with cancer

"I went to the doctors where my tummy was checked over and I had blood tests carried out," she said.

"The doctors phoned me about a week later to say there was an infection in my right ovary. It was red flagged, but I wasn't seen until July 11. When I did go for my appointment, I was examined internally, and told that there was a small cyst on my ovary, but nothing to worry about. It was the size if a walnut at this point. From there, I was noticing more and more discomfort and I had to go back again to the doctors on September 6, but I felt like I was getting nowhere.

"The pain was so intense, and I was going back and forth to appointments. I went to my local MP Robbie Butler, who wrote five letters, and after those letters, I finally got a date in November for more examinations. It was then, that the staff could see that it was getting bigger, and that it would need to be removed through an operation. I was overweight, so they couldn't do keyhole surgery at that time.

"In the new year, I was getting pain which was severe. Back and forth to appointments, I was just in so much pain. It was in May then, of 2023, that I had a MRI carried out, which showed that the cyst was growing. From there, the whole year of 2023, I was getting scans, and tests. In February of 2024, I was due to get surgery and just before I was going to theatre, the anaesthetist came up and spoke to me.

"He said after reading my files, he was advising not to operate at that stage. From there, I was in and out again, with the pain. In April, I was admitted to hospital and after a CT scan, the cyst was measuring at 20cm. In a month, it had grown by a further 2cm."

Clare said she then noticed new symptoms, including passing dark blood when going to the bathroom. She said it was so bad, her toilet bowl would be full of blood after bowel movements.

"I couldn't go on like this any more," she added.

"I was just in so much pain. I was brought into hospital then on August 27, 2024, for surgery. I ended up having a full hysterectomy. I had a stoma bag put in. I was opened up from down below, right up to my breast bone, with 30 staples in me. It wasn't a cyst, it was tumours all over me. I had a 12cm tumour, wrapped around my colon. It is really traumatising to think about it.

"After all I had gone through, on September 23, 2024, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I was stage 3. I am scheduled for chemotherapy next week, and I just want to be open about this, for other women to be aware too, because ovarian cancer can be a silent killer."

On Friday night, Clare's son Adam, who is a local comedian, will host a fundraising event for Macmillan Cancer, who has been there for Clare, since her devastating diagnosis. Their staff have helped in more ways than the family say they'll ever be able to thank them for - including helping with finances for heating oil.

The fundraising night will take place in the Beehive Bar, on the Falls, and will see a host of talented individuals, including Shane Todd, take to the stage, all for a worthy cause.

Adam told Belfast Live: "I have been doing stand-up comedy for the last two and a half years, and by no way am I saying I am famous, but I do have a bit of a platform to be able to raise awareness for ovarian cancer, after seeing what mum went through.

"I want to be able to raise money for this charity, because they are brilliant. I think laughter is the best medicine sometimes, and our family has tried to stay as positive as possible throughout all of this. My mum is always there for me, and has gone to all of my gigs. I want to do this one for her.

"Life can be really terrible, but if we can bring a bit of laughter about, then we want to help people take their minds of whatever they are going through. I can't thank people enough for the support so far, and really look forward to Friday night, it'll be brilliant!"

Please click here for ticket details. Visit this link for more information on Macmillan Cancer, and follow here for symptoms and help in relation to Ovarian Cancer.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.