Jemma Bruce, 22, feels unheard by NHS doctors and is raising funds for private surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes after years of pain.
Jemma feels like she’s been ignored by NHS doctors. She was diagnosed with her first tumour at just 13. Doctors decided not to remove it unless her symptoms got worse. Fast forward to 21, and she was diagnosed with a second tumour.
Despite being in constant pain and vomiting almost daily, she was told to wait. It wasn’t until nine months later that she finally got emergency surgery. By then, the tumour was cutting off blood supply to her ovaries.
Jemma believes if her concerns had been taken seriously, she wouldn’t have suffered so much. The pain left her housebound and forced her to drop out of college. Now, she gets panic attacks just thinking about visiting doctors.
She’s currently trying to raise £7,500 for the surgery the NHS won’t provide. Jemma just wants to get her life back. She feels many women are silenced by doctors and wishes they would listen.
At 13, she was rushed to the hospital with severe pain. They found a large tumour but didn’t remove it. Instead, they monitored it. When she turned 21, she faced more pain and was diagnosed with another tumour.
Again, doctors said they would only act if her symptoms worsened. After months of pain, she was finally rushed back to the hospital. That’s when they discovered the serious issue with her blood supply.
Now, she’s fundraising for a procedure that would change her life. Jemma hopes to return to her studies and live without the constant worry of tumours. She’s even accepted that she may not be able to have children naturally.
Jemma’s story highlights the struggles many face when seeking medical help. She’s determined to raise awareness and get the care she needs. If you want to support her, check out her GoFundMe page.
