Crystal before her diagnosis

A mum-of-five who was told to double her hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after her incurable cancer symptoms were mistaken for perimenopause, has said her diagnosis still feels like "a dream". Crystal Portsmouth, 50, had endured chronic anaemia, painful periods and exhaustion for years, but was told by her GP that this was due to fibroids – non-cancerous growths in or around the womb.

The social care practitioner was recommended to try the Mirena coil to alleviate the heavy bleeding during her periods, and was prescribed iron tablets for anaemia, but her symptoms persisted and the coil caused urinary tract infections (UTIs).

After the coil was removed, Crystal said her GP believed her symptoms were related to perimenopause and she was prescribed HRT, whi

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