Told It Was Menopause — But It Was Stage 3 Cancer: Teacher's Shocking Diagnosis

A 56-year-old primary school teacher who was repeatedly told her symptoms were linked to menopause and stress was later diagnosed with stage three endometrial cancer, highlighting growing concerns around the misdiagnosis of serious health conditions in women.

Susan Seargent, known to friends and family as Charlie, first sought medical help in 2020 after experiencing exhaustion, abdominal pain, and recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs). At the time, her symptoms were attributed to the menopause and the stress of her demanding career in education. She was prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and fitted with a Mirena coil to manage symptoms.

But in February 2023, during a trip to Norfolk with her husband Peter, 53, Susan experienced an alarming turn in her health. Frequent and then painful difficulty urinating led to an emergency hospital visit, where scans revealed a 17cm cyst. She underwent an emergency hysterectomy, and just six weeks later, doctors confirmed the cyst was stage three cancer that had already spread beyond the uterus.

“They said it was unlikely to be anything serious. But it had already spread to the outer uterine lining, the fluid, and my right ovary,” Susan recalled.

Susan underwent six rounds of chemotherapy between August and September 2023. Though she lost her hair and strength, she refused to let the diagnosis define her.

To stay mentally strong, she challenged herself to walk the Limestone Way, describing how even small progress kept her spirits up.

“I was sick, wearing a bobbly hat, using walking poles, and being overtaken by everyone. But I kept going.”

Following her treatment Susan finally saw a menopause specialist, two years after her initial referral. By then, her treatment was over, and the opportunity for earlier intervention had passed.

“The specialist said, ‘I’m so sorry I’m only just seeing you now.’ It was just too late,” she said.

Susan believes that earlier access to specialist care or a timely smear test could have caught the cancer sooner. While women over 50 are offered smear tests every five years, her last was in 2019, and her diagnosis came in 2023.

Now in remission and committed to raising awareness, Susan is preparing to cycle 56 miles in the Chris Hoy Tour de 4 on September 7, using an electric bike to aid her recovery. She is raising funds for the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity, inspired by her daughter’s friend who battled cancer in childhood.

“When you think how hard cancer is as an adult, and then imagine a 10 or 11-year-old going through it, it’s heart-breaking. That’s why I’m doing this.”

Susan's story has become a powerful voice for better diagnostic diligence and greater awareness that not all symptoms in midlife women are simply “just menopause.”