An 18-year-old who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer has decided not to have her ovaries removed.Beckii Handy, a teenage girl from the United Kingdom, is one of the youngest women ever to be diagnosed with this type of cancer. It's normally found in women over 50. She was told she was going to have to have a hysterectomy done and her ovaries removed. But she refused!
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Handy was only 15 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The poor girl thought she was just struggling with stomach problems and was left in complete shock after receiving her diagnosis. "I never dreamed I would be told I had cancer," she told a local newspaper.
Doctors told her the only way she was going to fight the cancer was by undergoing a full hysterectomy and getting her ovaries removed. But the brave teenager said no because she wants to be a mom someday.
Instead of getting a hysterectomy, Handy underwent two types of chemotherapy treatments instead. She was given the all-clear in January or 2012. She hopes now that she will be able to have kids and also wants to encourage other young women to get checked. "I think young people can get embarrassed about going to the doctor but what is a bit of embarrassment if it saves your life?" she said. "If I had not gone to the doctor that day, I probably would not be here now."
I really admire this young girl's decision to not have the hysterectomy done and it looks like her instincts were right all alone. If only all adults had this teenager's bravery!
Image via Thinkstock
