{"id":26894,"date":"2021-03-23T16:52:53","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T16:52:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cmshub.wpengine.com\/?p=338789"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:15:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:15:00","slug":"nurse-diagnosed-with-stage-iv-cancer-after-thinking-her-pain-was-caused-by-spicy-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/nurse-diagnosed-with-stage-iv-cancer-after-thinking-her-pain-was-caused-by-spicy-food\/","title":{"rendered":"Nurse Diagnosed with Stage IV Cancer After Thinking Her Pain Was Caused by Spicy Food"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Nikki Gray<\/a> was originally diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2016. She completed a chemotherapy regimen and was told she was cancer-free. So when nausea and abdominal pain began to plague her a couple of years later, she didn\u2019t immediately think it might be cancer again.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Instead, the 52-year-old intensive care nurse thought it was likely spicy food that was causing her so much pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Facebook\/Nikki Gray<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI had gone back to work part-time and was getting on with my life,\u201d Nikki says. \u201cI\u2019d changed to a vegan diet and felt really well, but I started to get acid reflux, nausea, intermittent abdominal pain, and feeling full. I thought maybe it was because I was eating a spicy diet, but after four weeks of changing what I ate it made no difference.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, however, Nikki had the right tests done. She went to her oncologist, who ran a blood test and a CT scan<\/a> and determined that her ovarian cancer had indeed returned.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Facebook\/Nikki Gray<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI used to be very active, a gym-goer, an advanced scuba diver who enjoyed rambling and traveling to far-flung places,\u201d Nikki says. \u201cThis has changed now that I don\u2019t have much energy, but I am so pleased that my treatment is working and that I can help to raise awareness of this disease which affects women of all ages.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Facebook\/Nikki Gray<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nikki started chemo again in January and will be participating in a clinical trial<\/a> as well. So far, she is responding well to the treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve found it really hard this time, suffering the cumulative effects of treatment,\u201d Nikki says. \u201cI\u2019ve been told that I\u2019m treatable but not curable, and so I plan to move into my mum\u2019s extension so that she can look after me when I feel unwell or have no energy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Facebook\/Nikki Gray<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nikki hopes that she can use her story to help encourage other women to look out for the symptoms of ovarian cancer<\/a>. She says many women think their cervical smear test will detect the disease, but that\u2019s not the case.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOthers confuse symptoms with irritable bowel syndrome or menopause,\u201d she says. \u201cBeing forewarned is [being] forearmed so women can be their own advocate in getting help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: Facebook\/Nikki Gray<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ovarian cancer is most treatable when it is caught early. If you experience any of the following symptoms<\/a>, contact your doctor and ask about getting tested for ovarian cancer:<\/span><\/p>\n

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