‘‘I wasn’t going to risk my baby’s life, not even for my own life.’’ Abbie Colvin was diagnosed with cervical cancer and told she would never be able to have children after laser treatment and a possible hysterectomy, then something changed… Words by Holly Patterson
Meet Abbie Colvin, 21 years old, a biomedical science student at Manchester Metropolitan University, aspiring doctor and mum of miracle baby Oscar. Abbie, like any other girl in her twenties enjoyed socialising, partying, travelling and wanting to create a career for herself, but couldn’t help the niggling of something else she didn’t anticipate. Two years ago in April, Abbie was diagnosed with cervical cancer. For a year Abbie was being treated for cystitis with antibiotics as she was suffering from heavy bleeding after sex and continuous back pain. “The NHS only undergo smear tests between 25-64 for women, as cervical cancer usually effects women who are sexually active between 30-45, so this wasn’t an option for me.”
was no way I even thought it would be cancer.” Taking the advice from the sexual health clinic she visited her doctor and was then diagnosed with cervical cancer “I just didn’t know what to say or think in that moment.” The doctor had located abnormal cells on her cervix and that laser treatment, as well as the possibility of a hysterectomy could be a possibility. The treatment would would result in her never being able to have children.
Doctors informed Abbie that she would be able to freeze her eggs however, would never be able to get pregnant herself “pregnancy was something that I always dreamed of and something I wanted to experience for myself.” In April Abbie was scheduled to have her laser treatment in hope it would kill all the abnormal cells, when a little bump After a general check up at occurred. Before laser treatment her local sexual health clinic, is performed, you are required where she had a full sexual to take a urine sample and from screening they suggestAbbie’s urine sample was someed something wasn’t right thing nobody expected. She was “They told me I should visit pregnant. “After just being told a doctor due to my sympI would never be able to have toms and after they did the children and then to be told I check up they knew somewas pregnant then, my emotions thing wasn’t right, but there were everywhere but I felt so 1. Women’s Health Univeristy Magazine 2019
grateful in that moment.” The news was certainly a surprise for Abbie’s boyfriend Oakley Buchanan “Mine and Oakley’s relationship was relatively new and certainly was a shock for use both, but a this was something we couldn’t be happier about.” A tough decision made by Abbie was made to refuse chemotherapy until the baby was born. And that’s exactly what she did, baby Oscar Oakley was born, healthy and happy “I can only describe the moment as a blessing and a miracle.” Not long after bringing baby Oscar into the world, she continued with her University studies achieving a first and also completed three stages of chemotherapy within seven months “yes, I suppose I did do well.”
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Abbie & Baby Oscar
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Under the circumstances the University offered her to take time from her studies and allow her to focus on her health “I didn’t want this illness to define my life, it actually encouraged me more to achieve my goals.” After ongoing treatment, she was cancer-free. After a routine check up she was informed the cancer had returned which resulted in a hysterectomy and radiation treatment. Second round of treatment is when Abbie started losing her hair and now has lost all hair.
I had to be strong for him.” Beginning of 2019 she and her family were awaiting some important test results, hoping they wouldn’t discover any harmful repercussions of the treatment. The results were not what they had hoped and that the cancer had returned more viciously attacking tissues in the body. Throughout her attempt of a positive mentality throughout her life, being informed that she may not live to see another Christmas was certainly not what Abbie and her loved ones could digest. Abbie suffers from tiredness, constantly being sick and this resulting in wearing size 0 clothes.
Losing her hair certainly didn’t effect Abbie’s style and beauty, she is admired daily on Instagram for being a style icon and inspiration to others. “All my motivation Not longer after and strength came receiving the devasfrom Oscar and that tating and shocking 3. Women’s Health University Magazine 2019
news that she would not make it to the next Christmas, she decided to create a bucket list that she wanted to complete, again very inspiring and admirable for many. In-fact that inspirational her bucket list raised over £21,000 to help her achieve her dreams. Older sister Christie Colvin, created a fundraiser on Facebook and shared Abbie’s bucket list, which had 2.1k shares on Facebook and continuous heartfilled messages for the young mum. Abbie has already from then, completed some of her bucket list including, horse riding, ice skating and drove a Lamborghini.
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‘‘ She wore her scars as her best attire. A stunning dress made of hellfire.’’ Daniel Saint
Abbie’s Instagram is filled with party nights out with her friends, love for her baby Oscar, achievements and her undeniable beauty, not for one second would you comprehend what this one woman has been through and is going through. Abbie truly is an inspiration for all and lives her life to the fullest. Abbie says “Having cancer from such a young age has made be open-minded to the world, I have changed 100 percent. Everyday I wake up, I am grateful. A positive mentally helps me with treatment and most importantly stay strong for Oscar.”
and keeps battling with cancer as well as raising awareness about cervical cancer, giving other people hope. Although cancer was the worst thing to happen to Abbie, the best thing came from it, which is her incredible son Oscar. She continues to take each day with a positive attitude and keeps battling with cancer as well as raising awareness about cervical cancer, giving other people hope.
Although cancer was the worst thing to happen to Abbie, the best thing came from it, which is her incredible son Oscar. Although smear tests may not be available She continues to for the younger gentake each day with eration, she wants to a positive attitude remind and encour5. Women’s Health University Magazine 2019
age that there are other ways of testing for cervical cancer and wants to stress the importance of not leaving symptoms untreated. I am certain we will all see more from Abbie and her inspirational life and that this is lesson for us all to be thankful for life and to live it to its maximum, just like her.
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‘‘ If you’re having sex, then you should quailfy for a smear test.’’ Petition gathers thousands of signatures, making people question the accuracy of the smear test age.
More than 130,000 signatures have been gathered in petition to alter the age for cervical screenings to be lowered. Natasha Sale a woman battling metastatic cervical cancer was the one who introduced the petition. The petition was that successful MPs had been forced to debate if the age should be lowered to 18, rather than 25 for cervical cancer screenings. Cervical cancer develops in a woman’s cervix and according to the NHS it mainly affects sexually active women aged between 30 and 45. Most cases of cervical cancer is caused by HPV, which is a very common virus that can be passed on by any time of sexual contact between man or woman. The NHS claims that, women under 25 don’t tend to require a smear test due to the research that the disease is rare in the younger age group. Jordana Colwell a Leeds University student was a supporter of the petition and signed towards the cause “I feel so strongly about this as it’s a big concern for young women, me being one of them.” Jordana then goes on to tell about her own health issues and frights she has had regarding cervical cancer. Jordana talked about how she had suffered from stomach pain, bloating and bleeding after sex for nearly a whole year in her life. When she visited doctors they did numerous tests and ultrasounds to discover the cause, which they didn’t manage to find. After many appointments and no cause for the health issues she decided she would just start living with it, but it became very tiring and depressing living with these kind of health issues. Then she decided to direct her symptoms to the internet and see if they were similar to the ones she was experiencing. Symptoms of cervical cancer, bleeding after intercourse, unexplained pelvic pain and pain during intercourse “straight away this was ringing alarm bells for me.”
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Online sites which discuss cervical cancer and the symptoms of the disease, strongly recommend you report it to your doctor and on this advice this is what Jordana decided to do. Informing the doctor of the symptoms she had been experiencing for a long time now and with the other results coming back normal Jordana asked the doctor if she would be able to have a cervical cancer screening and receive a smear test. Due to Jordana’s age the doctor declined her request for the smear test as the doctor said it would ne highly unlikely for her to have cervical cancer. “I started to gain a bad attitude towards the NHS and that I felt uneasy putting my health issues into their hands, but what else can I do.” “If you are having sex and are old enough to have sex, then you should qualify for a smear test.” Cases like Jordana’s are reasons why the online petition for cervical cancer screenings, to be lowered is important to so many young woman and this ambition needs to be reminded and reached. But it should also be a reminder for all women and how important it is to attend their appointments for their smear tests. Celebrities such as Rebekah Vardy have previously used social networking platforms to remind woman to attend their appointments. Vardy also posted and captioned on Instagram “More than 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in the UK and nearly 900 die annually and yet one in four women skip cervical screening because of embarrassment, don’t be a statistic ladies.”
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10 Ways to balance your work & life in 2019 1)
Plan, plan, plan- Planning our days efficiently is key for designing the right balance plan. There are multiple ways in which you can achieve this for example, ensure your desktop is organised into designated folders and start organising your wardrobe, this way you only own stuff you really like and you won’t spend as much time in the morning picking what to wear.
2) Surround yourself with positivi-
ty- The most successful entrepreneurs surround themselves by people just like them. If you want to succeed, not only do you need a positive mind-set yourself but also be influenced by the positivity around you. By harvesting this you can adapt new skills and outlooks on areas in which you could improve.
3) Activeness- Don’t neglect your body and your health. Nothing stimulates the brain more than getting active. Walk, swim, run or bike. Maybe consider doing this with a companion, creating a time of day to connect and escape work deadlines and any other stresses. Let this be a time for you and you only, to pump any stress and adrenaline out of the body.
4) Activeness- Don’t neglect your body and your health.
Nothing stimulates the brain more than getting active. Walk, swim, run or bike. Maybe consider doing this with a companion, creating a time of day to connect and escape work deadlines and any other stresses. Let this be a time for you and you only, to pump any stress and adrenaline out of the body. 8. Women’s Health University Magazine 2019
5) Relax and forget- As soon as that clock
hits home time, that is exactly what it is. Home time. Make sure you leave your work at work. Get home, get your comfy’s on and switch off. The distinction between work and home will allow you to re-energise and be ready for the next day. www.womenshealthuniversity.co.uk
Balance is the key to everything. What we do, think, say, eat, feel, they all require awareness we can grow. - Koi Fresco
6)
Time management- How do you sleep, work, keep active, socialise and make time for yourself? 8-8-8 plan. Eight for sleep, eight for work and eight, to do whatever you please.
7)
Put yourself first- ‘I really want to do this or I really wish I had done this.’ Create the right balance of success in your career and really experiencing life and what it has to offer.
8) What is the purpose in your life
right now? - Stop plummeting along. Establish what you want to be doing and what you’re wasting your time on.
9) Keep note- Write down this plan, write down your goals. This will be a constant reminder of what you want without getting distracted by other things.
10) Take a day off- Take a day off and do whatever you want. This is your life and you be the boss of it!
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