Faye Louise, 39, from Horsham, first felt discomfort in spring 2023 but put it down to period pains. But an ultrasound revealed an ovarian cyst, which turned out to be cancer
A woman who had to have several organs removed due to cancer says being told she is now disease-free was the best ever Christmas present.
Faye Louise, 39, first felt discomfort in spring 2023 but put it down to period pains. But an ultrasound revealed an ovarian cyst, which turned out to be cancer.
She was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare tumour that causes a build-up of a jelly-like substance in the abdomen.
Faye needed the organs removed because the tumour had ruptured, spreading cancer cells. She was so worried that she started planning her own funeral.
An operation removed her spleen, gallbladder, appendix, ovaries, uterus, Fallopian tubes and greater and lesser omentum – abdominal organs with various functions.
Her navel and part of her liver were removed too, and her diaphragm and pelvis had to be scraped.
But she got the all-clear and said: “To have been told there is no evidence of disease, it was the greatest Christmas gift that I could have got.”
Former model Faye, of Horsham, West Sussex, is now a flight dispatcher at Gatwick Airport. She said: “The job is very physical, but I love aviation and I’m happy that I’m back in the role.”
Annual scans will be required every November and Faye said: “Waiting for the results will sadly make or break every Christmas for me.
“But you just have to keep pushing forward and never give up.” Since her recovery Faye has been fundraising for Cancer Research UK, being gunged in a pub garden and doing Brighton’s Race for Life.
