“My vital prognosis was compromised”: her papillomavirus caused two cancers, says this young woman from Azure

Unprotected sex nearly cost Stacy her life. The responsible? The papilloma virus, a family of viruses that cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and, in the most serious cases, cancer.

Every year, some 6,400 cases of HPV (human papillomavirus) related cancers are diagnosed in France, mainly of the cervix (44%), anus (24%) and oropharynx (22%), in France’, according to the Institute Cancer National.

At 28, Stacy is in remission from two cancers of the cervix and colon, caused by HPV. “I’m a rare case”Théoulienne confesses with a smile.

Removal of the uterus and brachytherapy

It all started in May 2020, five months after the birth of their first child. Concerned about continuing to bleed, she makes an appointment with a gynecologist, who does a smear for the first time, recommending this test from the age of 25.

“This is where I find out that I have the papillomavirusremember Stacy. So far, things are going relatively well. It’s not very serious, it can be cured.”

Her optimism fades when she is told, after advanced tests, that she has cancer caused by this virus and that she will not be able to keep her uterus.

“I asked the surgeon crying if I could have a second child before, he replied “you can but this baby won’t have a mom anymore”.”

To avoid menopause and thus premature aging, Stacy transplants her ovaries below her ribs. “I was able to maintain my menstrual cycle but I no longer have flow.”

At the same time, he starts brachytherapy, to irradiate the tumor directly and in high doses. “You keep a box inside the vagina, so it’s very painful but very effective. It hasn’t been easy to live with, a lot of humiliation because it’s not a very nice area to show doctors all the time.”

nine centimeter tumor in the colon

In December 2020, the condition of La Théoulienne deteriorated. He loses 12 kilos and his stools turn bloody. Her oncologist and later a gastroenterologist assure her that it is probably an effect of the brachytherapy and that there is nothing to worry about.

“No one believed me, so I packed my things and went to the clinic where I had already been operated on.” Finally supported, Stacy passes several tests.

“My surgeon, the one who operated on my first cancer, walks into my room telling me that it may be hard to believe but I have colon cancer and the tumor is three inches.”

“At that moment, I am speechless. I have nothing coming to me except the shock of telling myself that nine months later I still have cancer as a young, young mother to boot. The world fell apart a bit, but I decided to keep my head up.”

The biopsy reveals that the tumor is from the papilloma virus, making Stacy a “rare case”. She undergoes a strong laparotomy operation, that is, with her belly open, to remove both the colon and part of the rectum. “I have come a long way because then I found out that my vital prognosis was compromised.”

Prevention in social networks

Today, two years later, Stacy is better but still has the consequences of her operations. Recognized as category 2 disabled, the trained pastry chef can no longer work.

“I can’t hold my stool like everyone else anymore, I have to go to the bathroom 15-20 times a day and it’s very annoying.” To live, La Théoulienne receives the maximum amount of the disabled adult allowance (AAH), that is, €956.

“L’après-cancer est presque plus difficile à vivre. Tout le monde vous croit guérie, il n’y a plus d’opération, on n’en parle plus mais je reste perpétuellement dans ce sujet puisque j’ai un suivi pendant five years.”

His body has changed and his state of fatigue remains constant, forcing him to restrict his social life. “They often tell me “Come on Stacy, get out there, go exercise” but no, I can’t really do it, I need to rest.”