Maddy Brown, from Townsville, Queensland didn't think much of the abnormal symptoms of pain and bleeding in her pelvic area.

But after a few days of the same excruciating pain, the 22-year-old went to her doctor for some answers. 

'This first doctor that kind of straight up whooshed me out the door and sent me for an STD check without listening to me,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 

 

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Maddy Brown (pictured) from Townsville, Queensland didn't think much of the abnormal symptoms of pain and bleeding in her pelvic area

 

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An 8cm tumour was found in Ms Brown's cervix and was pushing against her bladder 

Having already been tested recently, Ms Brown went to another GP but was once again told her pain was likely caused by a sexually transmitted disease. 

Frustrated, she spoke to her mother who is a registered nurse, and suggested she go see her regular GP.  

Upset and overwhelmed at being brushed to the side the first two times, Ms Brown finally underwent a pap smear. 

'I was very confused as to why the past two doctors didn’t take concern so quickly as this doctor did,' she said.

The doctor suggested she go see a specialist.

'It looked like an ectropion which is where your cells can grow on the outside of your cervix due to change in hormones from the contraception pill and so forth,' Ms Brown said.

A week later on November 16, 2019, Ms Brown was told the horrifying news that she had cancer.

'I was told my pathology came back as adenocarcinoma [cancer]. In that split second I was just speechless. I had no idea what to think or say,' she said.

'I didn’t know what was on my mind more. The fact I could of found this out weeks earlier to get on top or the fact that I had just been told I actually had cancer. 

'It was terrifying. I feel like I just saw everything flash before my eyes.' 

On November 25, Ms Brown was booked in for surgery, where she was told they would remove the tumour.

Once inside, the doctor realised it would be far more complicated and would not complete the surgery until further consultation.

Two centimetres of the tumour was taken from the top and bottom for a biopsy, but Ms Brown was losing a lot of blood.

'She was originally going to take it out but when she went in it was a whole lot bigger than what she thought so only ended up taking a biopsy from the top and bottom,' Ms Brown explained. 

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Smear test campaign video to raise awareness for cervical cancer

 

 

 

 

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Ms Brown (middle) and her brother-in-law Lachlan (right) launched a GoFundMe page to support her fight with cervical cancer 

 

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A complication in the surgery saw Ms Brown lose a lot of blood and had to be packed in 

The next day the doctor informed them of 'how bad it actually was' and Ms Brown's family jumped to ensure she was comfortable.  

'All I really remember was her walking in to tell us how bad it actually was and next thing,' she said. 

'I know my mother and sister were down at work organising my PET and MRI scan and my brother-in-law Lachlan just jumping straight into the bed with me to hold me cause I just lost it.' 

Lachlan launched a GoFundMe page to help ease Ms Brown's worries as she was out of work for six weeks and had another three months ahead of her.   

Ms Brown was given 24 hours to decide whether or not she wanted to save her eggs.

'It was the most terrifying decision I had to make in such a short time,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 

'In the end, I chose to do whatever had to be done and not to worry about fertility because I knew if I didn’t do the whole works I wouldn’t have been able to cope mentally.' 

On January 22, a doctor performed a biopsy where he removed more of Ms Brown's cervix and her 20 pelvic lymph nodes. 

A week after 'probably the worst recovery I've gone through', Ms Brown was told the cancer was gone.

'It was incredible and I couldn't believe it,' she said.

'To me, it was perfect timing cause that weekend I was flying to Mackay for my sister's engagement.'

After finally returning back home to Townsville where she spent time recovering in Brisbane, Ms Brown received a call from her specialist.  

'He decided to send me to a radiation oncologist here in Townsville where it was decided I would undergo chemotherapy, radiation therapy and brachytherapy.

'Even though the pathology was clear from the lymph nodes that were taken, there are still nodes where all it would take is one cell to have gone to one of those so we would have missed it. 

'I was heartbroken. I thought I jinxed myself and had celebrated too soon. 

'I felt like I was never going to get a final decision cause I was always told one thing and then had it changed on me.

'But I didn’t even think twice because I told my very first specialist that I wanted it done because then in future if it comes back I know that we did everything we could the first time rather than me questioning why they wouldn’t listen to me.' 

 

Ms Brown's friend Heidi (left) who is a registered nurse stayed in hospital while and helped her friend change, shower as she continued to recover 

 

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The 22-year-old on Monday will begin planning for her five weeks of treatment radiation and chemotherapy 

The 22-year-old on Monday will begin planning for her five weeks of treatment radiation and chemotherapy - 25 sessions of radiation and five of chemotherapy.  After that, she will undergo three sessions of brachytherapy. 

Unfortunately, Ms Brown didn't have enough time to save her fertility and her ovaries will be radiated with treatment.  

'It’s been the most hectic roller coaster ever. No words truly explain what it’s been like,' she said.

'It’s been horrific and terrifying. The number of emotions you get filled with just shouldn’t exist.

'And it just shows that no matter your age you are the one that knows your body the best so no one should take no for an answer. 

'My first specialist here in Townsville openly admits I saved my own life by not taking no as answer cause mine was so aggressive and growing so quickly.

'I wouldn’t have made it to 25. I’m just trying my best to keep pushing through with my amazing support in my life and having all the chances to get the awareness out.'