Gracie Mae Cooper during treatment (Image: Cover Images)
A teenager believed she was simply enduring an unusually painful period – before receiving a devastating ovarian cancer diagnosis. Just a few months ago, 19-year-old Gracie Mae Cooper was living life to the full and pursuing a career she adored through her childcare apprenticeship at a nursery.
So when she started suffering from severe abdominal pains earlier this year, she presumed she was dealing with nothing more than exceptionally painful periods. Within roughly two weeks, however, her life and that of her tight-knit family was completely transformed.
What started as what she thought were cramps rapidly progressed into hospital visits, scans and examinations before medics delivered the news no 19 year old anticipates hearing – she had cancer.
“I had intense stomach pains making me really uncomfortable and I could barely move, this led to going to the doctors thinking it’s period pains,” explains Gracie from Congleton, Cheshire. “They advised to go to Royal Stoke hospital to see my gynaecologist to get further checks, which led to an ultrasound.”
After the examinations and ultrasound, medics identified a cyst on one of Gracie’s ovaries. In the overwhelming majority of instances, ovarian cysts are benign, may cause discomfort and frequently resolve without intervention. At that point, there was nothing to indicate anything more sinister.
Gracie Mae Cooper (Image: Cover Images)
“Nothing showed previous signs to what it turned out to be, I just had really bad stomach pains thinking it was period pains,” Gracie says. But merely two weeks after initially experiencing symptoms, further tests uncovered that the cyst was actually a rare type of ovarian cancer called germ cell cancer, which primarily affects teenagers and younger individuals.
Approximately 2,500 people across the UK receive a diagnosis of germ cell cancers annually. While the majority of cases occur in men with testicular germ cell tumours, ovarian germ cell cancers are considerably rarer, representing less than 5% of all ovarian cancer diagnoses.
The diagnosis arrived completely unexpectedly for Gracie, who had been in good health and leading a normal existence just days beforehand. The instant she received the news is a moment she says will remain with her forever.
“I remember this moment like it was yesterday, I first thought, ‘Oh my god I’m going to die, I’m too young for this,’ as I’m sat in the hospital waiting for results,” she recalls.
Gracie has not yet been informed what stage her cancer has reached, but she has already commenced treatment, which consists of chemotherapy to reduce the tumour prior to surgery. She’ll undergo four cycles of chemotherapy spanning three to six months, before having additional scans to monitor her progress.
Gracie Mae Cooper in hospital (Image: Cover Images)
Beyond the physical burden of chemotherapy, Gracie and her family are facing regular, exhausting journeys from Cheshire to London for treatment, a round trip of approximately 370 miles. “Treatment has been physically exhausting as we’re backwards and forwards from Congleton to London,” she says. “Emotionally I have been up and down, but mostly down, as this is not something I was expecting, especially at this age.”
The considerable expense of travelling vast distances while undergoing treatment has also heaped substantial financial strain on the family.
“[It’s] absolutely terrible as the travel is 185 miles taking around four hours each way,” she says of the journey. “This was costing a lot of money in fuel, around £80-90 each trip along with accommodation costing £400 for a week.”
Being so far from home while receiving treatment has brought further worries. “Having to travel all that way to get treatment is not fun, as I’m thinking if anything goes wrong I’m four hours away from help,” she says.
“As I’m not physically fit enough to do a lot of things, I would just sit looking out the car window watching time go by.”
Yet the most gruelling aspect of Gracie’s cancer battle has been enduring lengthy periods apart from those dearest to her. “I think that’s been the worst part about it all, knowing I can’t see my family for long periods at a time,” she says. “I believe this is what made my mental health worse.”
The diagnosis has also compelled her to pause her apprenticeship, something she describes as tremendously difficult after discovering a role she truly cherished. “I really loved my apprenticeship as this was my life, I really loved looking after the kids and building a relationship with them,” she says.
“I didn’t understand how much I meant to these kids, I have received lots of cards, handmade from the lovely kids I look after… Putting my apprenticeship on hold has been really difficult as this was a big part of my life.”
Despite all she has endured in recent months, Gracie says the ordeal has transformed her perspective on life and strengthened her resolve to make the very most of what lies ahead.
“It has made me more determined to do more things I haven’t done before and experience what life is made for,” she says. “I will make sure I spend more time with my family and take holidays as and when I can as this is a time to get away from life itself. Cancer has flipped mine and my family’s life upside down, we have had to cancel many days out and a big family holiday due to this.”
Gracie Mae Cooper was diagnosed at just 19 (Image: Cover Images)
Throughout her treatment, she has leaned heavily on those closest to her for support, with her sister proving to be a particularly vital pillar of strength.
“My sister has been my biggest support through this, she has been there for me through all of this, but my family has been there for me through all of this helping me through tough times,” she says.
Gracie Mae now hopes her story will inspire others not to dismiss symptoms that concern them, and to seek professional medical guidance should something not feel quite right. “(Don’t) feel alone as there are a lot of people that give support,” she says.
“But more importantly it is to get checked if you think something is off as this will save your life, yes it’s scary but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
After receiving her diagnosis, Gracie Mae and her family set up a fundraising appeal to help meet the rising expenses of journeying to London for treatment and lodging during her periods away from home.