'Don't assume all body changes are the menopause'

"Do not think that a change in your body is because of age or the menopause," Sandra Benton says

A woman who had a melon-sized tumour removed is urging women with the menopause not to assume it is behind all changes in the body.

Sandra Benton, aged 60, ignored symptoms of pain and indigestion and thought her gut health might be to blame because of the condition.

The travel agent, from Cheslyn Hay, suffered six months of lower stomach pain, which she thought was a muscle pull due to a lung condition, before feeling a small lump.

Ms Benton has now had surgery for ovarian cancer at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton and thanks her “lucky stars” she sought medical advice.

Ms Benton said: "It didn’t take long from [the diagnosis] before everything within my body changed.

"The tumour had grown so much that it had pushed my other organs around. I was very uncomfortable.

“I started to put on fluid around my stomach and within two days, I put on one stone and couldn’t move as there was 10 litres of fluid around my abdomen."

Shortly afterwards, she had to undergo a full hysterectomy and had both the tumour and her appendix removed, with her weight dropping to seven stone (44.4kg).

'Group of angels'

Originally planning to have six sessions of chemotherapy, she was only able to complete five because she had become so weak.

"My tumour was very large, but the cancer had been caught and removed early. I thank my lucky stars I did something about it," she said.

"The Gynaecology Service at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust are a group of angels, who are so generous with their time and are amazing at their jobs."

Ms Benton is now living her life to the full and is heading off on an Australian adventure this week.

"Do not think that a change in your body is because of age or the menopause," she cautioned.

“If you have any aches, pains or nagging stitch in your abdomen, then please seek medical advice. The swift action could save your life."