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Denise Hyde, 51, was adamant something was wrong with her when she went to the doctor and was misdiagnosed with peri-menopause.
Kiwi mum Denise Hyde had a 6.4kg tumour but she would never have found out about it if she’d not paid for a new scan.
Hyde, 51, told the NZ Women’s Weekly that she was struggling with daily tasks, was exhausted, had put on weight and was having on-and-off bleeding for 18 months before her diagnosis.
After repeated medical visits beginning in September 2022, Hyde’s symptoms were attributed to peri-menopause.
She followed medical recommendations, appointments with a menopause nurse, pills and tried different diets. Hyde even started the process of hormone replacement therapy.
“I was keen to try anything as my abdomen was getting huge… I was unable to bend down to do up my shoes and driving was becoming uncomfortable,” she told the Weekly.
After a blood test for hormone replacement therapy showed confusing results, a six-week wait was initially suggested before a re-test. Hyde decided, by her doctor’s recommendation, to pay for a private ultrasound.
The scan revealed a 25.5cm tumour in her right ovary. The 6.4kg uninvited guest was removed in June and was later confirmed as stage 1A ovarian cancer.
To prevent the spread of cancer cells, the surgeon conducted a hysterectomy and removed Hyde’s appendix at the same time.
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After deciding to book a private scan Denise Hyde found a 25.5cm tumour in her right ovary.
“Upon reflection, I could have been more insistent on getting to the bottom of my issues rather than accepting menopause was to blame for my symptoms, or that I was just overweight and losing it would be the answer to all my issues,” she told the Weekly.
“If it’s not covered due to a lack of symptoms, pay for it anyway – $280 literally saved my life.”
