I thought I was bloated – the truth was much worse… when the doctor told me I couldn’t believe it

The life of a woman who thought she was bloated was turned upside down when doctors told her what it really was.

Natasha Inman had “no symptoms” before doctors discovered she had four cysts on her ovaries totaling 40cm in size.

4

4

After a cesarean section to remove the growths, tests revealed it was cancer.

That’s what the 31-year-old financial officer said MailOnline: “I was just a little bloated, but I would never have gone to the doctor about it – it didn’t affect my life much.”

“Looking back now, I struggled in the gym for about three months, especially when I was on my stomach.”

Doctors said the total mass of cysts was the same as if she had been 5-6 months pregnant.

On May 4, she was diagnosed with stage 1 and grade 3 germ cell teratoma ovarian cancer.

Stage 1 means the cancer is only in the ovary and has not spread to the fallopian tube or uterus.

Grade three means the cancer is growing rapidly.

Also known as ovarian cysts, germ cell ovarian tumors begin in the ovarian cells, which develop into ova. Most of these are noncancerous.

Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, and irregular periods.

They are rare and mostly affect girls and young women in their early 30s, but surgery is required to remove the tumors.

Natasha, from Leeds, feared the upcoming chemotherapy would affect her fertility, and had her eggs frozen.

In late May, just weeks after being diagnosed, Natasha began the first of four chemo cycles that will end in early August.

At the end of her treatment, the 31-year-old will have her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.

Reflecting on her ordeal, Natasha, who has since lost her hair, said the treatment was “really tough.”

But she adds, “I’m lucky that I caught it early so I can heal and get better.”

4

4