The lifesaving decision that uncovered my cancer

A mother-of-five has said taking part in a research study for inflammatory bowel disease "saved her life" after a preventive hysterectomy detected womb cancer.

After having her genes tested as part of a study in 2025, Victoria Thurston, 51, from Martlesham, Suffolk, discovered she had Lynch syndrome — a genetic condition making her predisposed to cancer.

After deciding to have a hysterectomy to reduce the risk of cancer, during preparation for surgery doctors found she had early-stage womb cancer.

She said: "Nothing prepares you for a cancer diagnosis but the team were fantastic and very reassuring. They could tell me right away that they'd found it early and that it would be easy to treat."

In 2016 after experiencing symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, Thurston was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2017.

Her illness was described as being extensive and she has been through multiple major surgeries including the removal of her large intestine.

However, she volunteered to join a research study carried out by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) BioResource and NHS Genomic Medicine Services in Cambridge, in the hope of helping other people with the digestive condition.

The tests revealed she had Lynch syndrome which makes individuals more likely to develop particular types of cancer including bowel, womb, ovarian, stomach and pancreatic cancers.

Up to 60% of women with the condition go on to develop womb cancer.

Due to it being inherited, her children can also be tested.

Clinicians at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge found Thurston had early-stage womb cancer, which without the genetic testing would have possibly gone undetected.

She said: "Signing up to that study is one of the best decisions I ever made. Without the study, I don't know when I would have found out about my cancer."

Helen Bolton, a consultant gynaecology surgeon at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Addenbrooke's, said: "Our team found Victoria's cancer during routine tests that are performed for women with Lynch Syndrome prior to hysterectomy.

"Cancers like this can grow undetected, so Victoria was very fortunate that she chose to have this surgery at this time."

Following surgery in January, the 51-year-old is now cancer-free and continues to be seen for regular cancer screenings to detect any other cancers in the future.

She said: "It's been a difficult year for me and I'm so relieved that it's finally over. I'm looking forward to a brighter time ahead.

"I just married my wonderful husband Mark. Going out to buy the dress was one of the things I was most excited about after the surgery."

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