Louise’s story – recovering from a rare form of cancer
Louise Clarke shares her journey to recovery at Charing Cross Hospital, one of two hospitals in the UK to support cancerous molar pregnancies.
Charing Cross Hospital is one of two hospitals in the UK to support cancerous molar pregnancies. Our internationally renowned gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) team at the Trust are world leaders in the investigation and treatment of these rare conditions.
GTD is a general term used to cover several diseases that occur during or following pregnancy.
Louise Clarke shares her experience of receiving treatment at our private care unit at Charing Cross Hospital, following the diagnosis of a cancerous molar pregnancy.
When did you receive your diagnosis?
My journey started in early 2023. I became pregnant and was later diagnosed with a cancerous molar pregnancy by my local Trust following a miscarriage. Although I live in Northern Ireland, I was referred to Charing Cross Hospital for treatment because it’s one of the main centres to support molar pregnancies in the UK.
My consultant, Professor Michael Seckl, helped with my mindset. I always felt like he was involved in my journey- he made it clear that I had options and highlighted the importance of choosing the route of care that was right for me. While the type of cancer I had is extremely rare, I felt safe with Professor Seckl’s support.
What did your treatment plan involve?
I had my first treatment in October of 2023 and was on-track to complete my treatment in January of 2024. However, six weeks before I was scheduled to complete my treatment, the tumour came back. Professor Seckl very clearly explained that the team had picked up on the tumour before it could be seen in my scans because of the analysis from my blood tests.
I had to think about the next steps of my treatment, as it was hard to tell whether it had spread and there was no guarantee the treatment I had previously would work moving forwards.
I decided to have a hysterectomy in the hopes of avoiding chemotherapy. Without having a clear picture of where the tumour was, there was no guarantee that I would be able to completely avoid chemotherapy, but I decided this would be the best choice for my body. The operation was a smooth experience and I healed quickly.
Following the recovery of the hysterectomy, I was told that I would still need chemotherapy. This was a scary time and the team were very good at telling me the facts without intensifying the fear. They helped me to stay positive.
Because of my consultant’s attitude from day one of my journey to recovery, I felt like I was in safe hands. I came into the service not knowing what to expect and being wary of the experience, but the care I received meant that I never once considered my diagnosis could become terminal. That was a massive part of the experience, having the confidence to believe that I was going to be ok.
The chemotherapy was successful, and I celebrated the end of my treatment in June 2024.
How did you celebrate the end of your treatment?
The scans I needed were very organised and everything went well. After the ultrasound a member of staff met me and together we walked into a room where the team greeted me to celebrate the end of my treatment. It was lovely and I didn’t expect so much of a celebration. I marked my recovery by ringing the ‘end of treatment’ bell and we had afternoon tea. It was lovely to have everyone that I’d gotten to know so well throughout my treatment celebrating my journey. My husband and two children couldn’t make it but were happy to hear I rang the bell!
What are your plans for the future now that you’ve completed your treatment?
Since completing my treatment I had a day trip to the spa, my family and I are going to enjoy a weekend away and we are also planning a trip later in the year.
What is your message to other people based on your experience?
Cancer is awful and there’s no getting away from that but, with a supportive team, you can still make the most of an awful situation and don’t lose hope.
Find out more about our private care cancer services at Imperial College Healthcare.
imperial.private.healthcare@nhs.net +44 (0) 203 311 7700
