Uterine cancer survivor in the Sault stresses early detection
September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month and a Sault Ste. Marie woman is using the occasion to tell her own story of survival.
Karen Gillgrass is looking to spread the word on uterine cancer, a common illness that is not widely known.
Gillgrass recently received a clean bill of health from her doctor, having successfully completed her treatment. She counts herself lucky as she initially dismissed her symptoms.
“The symptoms are very hard to distinguish,” said Gillgrass. “Being a woman of my age, I am post-menopausal, and so I had post-menopausal bleeding. But it really wasn’t enough to be concerning.”
Gillgrass spent 40 years working in the health care field. At the time of her diagnosis, she was about to embark on a trip to the U.S., and wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong before departing.
“As soon as I saw my doctor, she knew that there was something wrong,” said Gillgrass.
“She sent me for tests and I went on my trip ... I came home and she told me the news that I have uterine cancer.”
Dr. Allison Pihelgas, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Group Health Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, said the clinic sees a surprising number of uterine cancer cases. If detected early, she said it's easily treatable.
“It shows itself pretty early, and so that’s why it’s really important for women to go to their doctor if anything is abnormal and go to regular screening,” said Pihelgas.
Sad cases
However, she said many women tend to ignore their health, which sometimes leads to tragedy.
“There are sad cases where it’s left for a really long time,” she said.
“And often you see women who have been suffering with this for years before they see a physician.”
It’s been a year since Gillgrass had her surgery and was told recently that she is still cancer-free. She credits staff at Sault Area Hospital’s Cancer Clinic for her recovery.
“I’m so proud of my doctors and how they took care of me,” said Gillgrass.
“And when I walked through those doors at the Sault Area Hospital, I felt safe.”
Both Gillgrass and Pihelgas said there needs to be more talk about feminine cancers and that women need to pay more attention to their health.
They continue to encourage regular checkups and stress the importance of early detection.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.