Nurse Lucy receives 'heroic' welcome at Chadderton campaign event

Just weeks after being hospitalised, an intensive care nurse told guests at a Chadderton café event how crippling endometriosis had reached her lungs and bladder.

Lucy Bowker, who is 26, had already faced a race against time to conceive her children before a hysterectomy became essential.

But endometriosis, which sees cells which should be in the womb adhere to other parts of the body, can also appear in vital organs and the mouth and gums.

This can require emergency surgery.

Sadly, research is so paltry that facts such as this are only being found out through the experiences of patients like Lucy.

This prompted event hosts, Oldham campaign Endometriosis Awareness North, to call for more research into a condition affecting one in ten women.

“On its own, endometriosis isn’t fatal, but it can lead to life-threatening complications such as ectopic pregnancy and bowel obstruction,” said the head of the campaign, Dr Anita Sharma.

“It has always been considered a pelvic condition, but some patients have been treated for endo in the lungs and brain!

"There seems no end to the misery it can cause and yet such little resource is put into finding a cure.”

Lucy received a heroic reception at the Baytree Café event, meant as a way of sharing information on the condition and an opportunity to share experiences and make new friends.

Endometriosis Awareness North is planning to go into schools and colleges and hold sessions for both boys and girls, about endometriosis and period health.

Teachers were present at the Chadderton event and promised to play their part.

Oldham medic Dr Sharma used the platform to outline the scale of the problem and offer some innovative solutions.

She added: “Endometriosis is not always straightforward to diagnose, as there is no blood test, it does not always show up on scans, and symptoms overlap with other conditions.

"We need to find a way to diagnose it – and quick.”
Continued Dr Sharma: “The whole of society has to get smarter about endo.

"For example, dentists (who can diagnose cancers), could play a role in spotting the condition, if only they were more aware.

"For our part, we will continue to educate through webinars and sessions like this and in schools.

"Why? Because the courage of women such as Lucy deserves far, far better treatment.”  

Visit the Endometriosis Awareness North website by clicking here

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