Victoria Dyson became pregnant but miscarried the baby at seven weeks – then doctors gave her devastating news
A couple’s emotional journey to start a family took a heartbreaking turn when fertility tests uncovered a devastating cancer diagnosis. Victoria Dyson, a 35-year-old nurse from Staffordshire Moorlands, sought medical help after struggling to conceive following a miscarriage in 2020.
An ultrasound and MRI scan revealed two tumors on her ovaries, and in July 2024, a biopsy confirmed she had ovarian cancer, necessitating a total hysterectomy and chemotherapy. Despite the challenges, Victoria remains determined to have a family through IVF and has launched a £30,000 fundraising campaign, with a friend generously offering to be her surrogate.
Reflecting on her emotional journey, Victoria said: “The loss of not being able to carry your child, or ‘see’ you in your child, is something that I feel is indescribable.” Victoria admitted to feeling consumed by jealousy, anger and sorrow but remains determined to create happiness for herself and her 29-year-old husband, Liam. She added: “You see pregnant people everywhere, every conversation seems to move to talking about children, and you are not part of the club.
“It’s like looking through a window at a party, desperately wanting to be a part of something so magical, but your ticket is invalid. But it’s not all hopeless, even when it feels like it, because there is a way, we can be a family”.
After enduring the heartbreak of a miscarriage in June 2020, Victoria and Liam continued trying to conceive but without success. However, during a routine fertility check-up at Royal Stoke University Hospital in March 2024, a sonographer unexpectedly detected a growth on Victoria’s left ovary.
Victoria recounted the tense moment: “The sonographer was very quiet, being a medical professional myself, I instantly knew something was wrong.” She added, detailing the examination: “The sonographer asked several questions and was very thorough when scanning my left side. The results came back and said I needed an MRI scan.”
Subsequent tests revealed more concerning news: an MRI scan showed growths on both ovaries. A consultation with a surgeon confirmed Victoria’s fears – she would need an operation to remove the growths for further analysis.
Before her surgery on July 30, 2024, Victoria received uplifting news from the fertility clinic – her ovarian reserve was comparable to that of a woman ten years younger. However, post-surgery, Victoria faced a new challenge. She shared: “My surgery date rolled around when I woke up from the operation, the surgeon told me that they hadn’t been able to save my left ovary.”
She was informed by the surgeons about the complications encountered. She said: “The surgeons told me that it was a mess in there and there was some scarring in the omentum which could be caused by miscarriages, UTIs or cancer.” In August 2024, Victoria received the heartbreaking diagnosis of low-grade ovarian serous carcinoma, a type of ovarian cancer. Her doctor informed her that battling the disease would require a full hysterectomy and omentectomy, forcing her into surgical menopause and ending any chance of carrying a child.
Breaking down her ordeal, Victoria confessed: “Initially when I got told there was a growth, I thought it could be anything.” The blow was compounded when the prognosis confirmed cancer, as she never expected it to be low-grade ovarian cancer. Sharing her despair, she recalled: “The surgeon said it was low grade, and we both felt completely hopeless.”
However, post-surgery investigations revealed a twist – the growth on her right ovary wasn’t cancer after all but a severe borderline tumour, a type of non-invasive ovarian tumour. Victoria’s current battle includes undergoing chemotherapy while also striving to gather £30K for IVF treatment, after being turned down for funding by her local Integrated Care Board.
In a heart-warming turn during the festive season, a friend proposed becoming a surrogate using Liam’s sperm and a donated egg. Expressing her profound hope and longing, Victoria said: “For us, being able to have a family would be a real miracle. Our hopes and dreams have been around having a family.”
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She added: “To be able to bring a child into this world and be their parent would be more than a dream come true.” Clinging to an optimistic future, she said: “There is still hope that we will still be parents, to have that opportunity would complete our life in terms of what we want out of it.”
Victoria is keen to raise awareness about surgical menopause and cancer, urging anyone with health concerns to consult their doctor. “There needs to be more awareness around menopause and how to manage symptoms,” Victoria said.
Victoria emphasised: “All women will go through menopause at some point, and we really need to continue beating that drum and raising awareness.”
You can contribute to Victoria and Liam’s GoFundMe campaign here: https://gofund.me/fb9c9a1e.
