Suffolk mum says research study 'saved her life' after cancer found early
It ultimately led to doctors discovering she had an early-stage womb cancer.
A Suffolk mum says taking part in medical research "saved her life" after it ultimately led to doctors discovering she had an early-stage womb cancer.
Victoria Thurston, from Martlesham, volunteered for a national research study after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Genetic analysis carried out through the study found the 51-year-old has Lynch syndrome – an inherited condition which increases the risk of developing several cancers.
It prompted Victoria to seek specialist medical advice and ultimately opt for preventative surgery.
But during tests ahead of the procedure, doctors at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge discovered she already had an early-stage womb cancer.
Victoria told us: "If I hadn't gone into the research, I wouldn't have known that I had the cancer."
She added: "In a year or two's time it might have developed or spread."
Following surgery earlier this year, Victoria is now cancer-free and has since married her partner Mark.
'My whole world just sort of fell apart'
Victoria was first diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2017 and later volunteered for the IBD BioResource, a national research platform which studies Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
She said she wanted to take part in research in the hope it could help other people and her own family.
As part of a pilot project, Victoria agreed that researchers could notify her if genetic analysis uncovered information potentially relevant to her health. Her genes were analysed at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, with the IBD BioResource team identifying Lynch syndrome before the diagnosis was confirmed by NHS East Genomics.
Victoria said she had never heard of the condition before receiving her diagnosis.
After appointments with specialists in genetics and women's health at Addenbrooke's, she chose to have a preventative hysterectomy because of her increased cancer risk.
It was during tests ahead of that operation that doctors discovered the cancer in her womb.
Speaking about receiving the news, Victoria told us: "My whole world just sort of just fell apart, really."
She recalled wondering: "How aggressive was the cancer? All the questions, you know, can it be treated?"
Doctors told her the cancer had been found at a very early stage and could be treated through the surgery that was already planned.
Cancer removed through surgery
Victoria underwent the hysterectomy in January, with the operation involving both gynaecological and gastrointestinal surgical teams because of her complex medical history.
Ms Helen Bolton, consultant gynaecology surgeon at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the cancer was discovered during routine tests carried out for women with Lynch syndrome before a hysterectomy.
She said: "The cancer we found was at a very early stage, meaning we were confident it could be completely removed as part of the hysterectomy."
Ms Bolton added that cancers of this type can grow without being detected and said Victoria was "very fortunate" to have chosen to undergo the operation when she did.
Victoria told us the results following her surgery showed the cancer had gone.
She did not require further cancer treatment, although her Lynch syndrome diagnosis means she will continue to receive regular screening for other cancers.
What is Lynch syndrome?
Lynch syndrome is an inherited genetic condition which increases a person's risk of developing certain cancers.
According to Cambridge University Hospitals, it particularly increases the risk of bowel and womb cancers, as well as ovarian, stomach and pancreatic cancers.
Victoria said discovering she had the condition made sense when she considered her family's medical history and said she wanted to support relatives who chose to undergo testing.
The Trust says around one in 400 people are thought to have Lynch syndrome. Because the condition is inherited, Victoria's close relatives, including her children, can also be tested.
'It could save your life'
The IBD BioResource was established in 2016 and has received samples and data from more than 50,000 patients at more than 100 UK hospitals.
Its aim is to improve understanding and treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Professor Miles Parkes, who leads the IBD BioResource and is a consultant gastroenterologist at Cambridge University Hospitals, said researchers wanted participants to be able to benefit directly from the programme.
He said: "I am delighted that the team's hard work has made a difference for Victoria and her family."
For Victoria, the discovery has marked the beginning of a very different chapter.
After recovering from her operation, she has now married Mark, describing him in the interview as her "wonderful partner".
And she hopes her experience encourages other people to consider taking part in medical research.
Victoria told us: "I wanted to get involved with research to potentially help other people and help my family."
Her message now is simple: "It could save your life, literally save your life."