Julie Ashbrook
Following 10 months without a period, Julie Ashbrook, 55, from Cheshire, experienced a one-off episode of abnormal bleeding in February 2024. Concerned, she went to her GP in early March and was fast-tracked to a gynaecologist under the two-week cancer referral pathway.
The consultant performed a smear test, which came back clear. An internal scan also showed nothing abnormal. After a brief discussion about her symptoms, Julie was discharged and referred back to her GP, with no follow-up planned.
Despite the “all clear,” Julie’s symptoms persisted — and worsened. She began experiencing pelvic pain, back pain, abnormal discharge, and spotting. Julie said: “It felt very similar to a urinary tract infection. Blood was found in my urine, so I was given antibiotics, but the symptoms continued.”
After multiple visits to the GP, Julie was eventually referred to a urologist. She had an ultrasound scan of her kidneys and bladder — both came back normal. Following a cystoscopy, everything appeared fine. Meanwhile, Julie’s symptoms became more severe: heavier bleeding, larger clots, and worsening pain. Julie was prescribed tranexamic acid to control the bleeding and told to return if there was no improvement.
In July, Julie went back to the GP, still with no relief. Julie said: “I begged to be referred again to a gynaecologist, but was told I would have to wait nine months since I’d already been seen in March and “nothing was found.”” Instead, they agreed to send Julie for another ultrasound, which she had in August.
The nurse performing the ultrasound suggested she needed an MRI, as the results were unclear. But instead of arranging the MRI, Julie was sent for an endometrial biopsy. After more than three weeks of silence, she was referred for a colposcopy. At this appointment, the consultant took biopsies and said they could see visible signs of cancer.
Only after this, Julie was sent for an MRI, CT and PET scans and in October 2024, Julie was diagnosed with Stage 4B cervical cancer.
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