Hannah Fry was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2021 after a routine smear test, leading her to then have a radical hysterectomy. This surgical procedure typically involves removing the womb, cervix, tissues around the cervix and fallopian tubes
British academic Hannah Fry has shone a light on her struggle with cervical cancer, after being diagnosed at just 36 years old. The BBC star, who often hosts Have I Got News for You, faced the disease and a divorce within a very short space of time, describing the ordeal as a ‘firebomb’ to her life.
Despite being cancer-free for three years, doctors once warned that there is 10% chance of it coming back. If it did, she told The Times, that it would likely be incurable.
“I never wanted to tell people if they should or shouldn’t have treatment,” she told the publication. “But I do think that when it comes to uncertainty and risk, only you can make the decision about what matters to you.”
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The 40-year-old was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2021 following a standard smear test. The devastating news then led her to have a radical hysterectomy – a surgical procedure that typically removes the womb, cervix, tissues around the cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
Hannah had a number of lymph nodes removed as a precautionary measure too, which unfortunately gave rise to another condition known as lymphoedema. This long-term health issue generally causes swelling in the body’s tissues, according to the NHS.
While it may affect any part of the body, it’s especially common in the legs. As a result, Hannah then proceeded to have further surgery, while engaging in Pilates to reduce some of her symptoms.
Last year, the star also faced another scare as experts discovered an unusual lump. Thankfully, it was revealed to be nothing serious, but Hannah said it was certainly a ‘sharp shock’.
She told the publication: “I had got into this habit of not really thinking about it, so that was a really sharp shock.” Hannah documented her cancer journey in a 2022 documentary entitled Making Sense of Cancer with Hannah Fry.
You can watch it on BBC iPlayer.
