Caroline Bailey credits her contraceptive coil with saving her life after the device inadvertently led to the discovery of a stage three ovarian cancer that had grown undetected in her body. The 54-year-old from Trelogan, Flintshire, initially believed the sharp, stabbing abdominal pain she experienced was caused by the coil itself, but medical imaging revealed a 13cm tumour pressing directly against it. Following chemotherapy, surgery and ongoing treatment, she now has no evidence of disease and has achieved several goals on her personal "tick list", including travelling to Italy and relocating to a cottage in Wales.
How did the coil lead to her cancer diagnosis?
Caroline's journey to diagnosis began in March 2023 when she started experiencing severe abdominal pain that she attributed to her contraceptive device. She made repeated visits to her general practitioner requesting coil removal, describing the sensation as stabbing pain in the middle of her abdomen. After being referred to a sexual health clinic due to lack of GP appointments, staff there were unable to remove it. By May, her pain had intensified so severely that she attended her doctor's surgery in considerable distress, crawling on her hands and knees and pleading for the coil to be extracted.
Rather than proceeding with removal, her doctor ordered a CA125 blood test to investigate whether ovarian cancer might be responsible for her symptoms. This decision proved crucial. The test returned a reading of 72 units per ml (U/ml), which exceeded the threshold that warrants further investigation. According to Ovarian Cancer Action, women over 40 should be referred for further investigations if their CA125 level exceeds 35 U/ml. However, it is important to note that a CA125 result alone cannot diagnose ovarian cancer, as endometriosis and other benign conditions can also raise the level.
Caroline was placed on a two-week urgent referral pathway, which she described as entering a bewildering world of medical urgency. Subsequent scans revealed the 13cm tumour, and a biopsy confirmed it was stage three ovarian cancer that had spread to the omentum – a large piece of fatty tissue located near the womb and ovaries. She recalled her shock at the tumour's size, saying:
"I couldn't believe the size of it. I actually thought, 'I won't live for another two years'."
What was her treatment pathway?
Caroline began chemotherapy shortly after her diagnosis in June 2023, undergoing four rounds of treatment at The Christie hospital in Manchester. The chemotherapy proved effective, shrinking her tumour from 13cm to 8cm. On 26 October 2023, she underwent a six-hour operation in which surgeons performed a total hysterectomy – removing her womb and cervix – along with removal of her omentum and appendix.
One month after her surgery, her grandson Roman was born. She then received two additional rounds of chemotherapy in January 2024, followed by follow-up CT scans. During this testing, genetic analysis revealed that Caroline carried gene mutations that increased her risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. She is now undergoing consultations about a double mastectomy to remove both breasts, along with reconstruction surgery and implants, as part of a clinical trial. Her family members are also being genetically tested to determine whether they carry the same mutations.
What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?
The NHS identifies the main symptoms of ovarian cancer as occurring frequently – approximately 12 or more times a month – and include a swollen tummy or feeling bloated, pain or tenderness in the tummy or the area between the hips, no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating, and an urgent need to wee or needing to wee more often. Persistent or frequent abdominal or pelvic pain, bloating, feeling full quickly, and needing to urinate urgently or more often warrant medical attention.
Caroline had been diagnosed with endometriosis – where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body – in her mid-20s. Because she had no family history of ovarian cancer whatsoever, she initially attributed her pain to her coil rather than considering a more serious underlying condition. Her experience highlights the difficulty some women face in being taken seriously by healthcare providers. She reflected:
"I was going to the doctor, saying, 'This coil is stabbing me', and I just hate how long it took for me to be taken seriously. I wish it was easier for women to get diagnosed."
What is her current status and outlook?
Caroline now has no evidence of disease following her surgery and chemotherapy, though she was informed that ovarian cancer can be unpredictable with a high recurrence rate. She expressed gratitude for the positive outcome of her genetic testing, saying:
"But the best thing about this, about having ovarian cancer, is my girls know what they're dealing with and they can have preventative surgery."She added:
"My diagnosis makes me live for now... and what I know now is, tomorrow is definitely not guaranteed."
Caroline's journey through treatment was complicated by significant personal challenges. She moved house several times during her treatment, experienced divorce, lost her job, and at one point lived out of her car. She identified money as her biggest worry during this period. Despite these hardships, she has channelled her experience into advocacy, now encouraging other women to have any unusual symptoms investigated and to advocate firmly for themselves within the healthcare system. Her personal motto reflects her philosophy:
"Be healthy, be happy, be kind."
What is the broader context of ovarian cancer?
According to Cancer Research UK, ovarian cancer is the 16th most common cancer in the UK, with approximately 7,700 new cases diagnosed every year. Recent data from the Welsh government reveals significant delays in treatment access. In July 2026, only 51.3% of women started their first definitive treatment within 62 days of first being suspected of having gynaecological cancer – well below the target of 75%. Additionally, NICE's 2026 guidance uses age-specific CA125 thresholds for women aged 50 and over, rather than relying on the same threshold for every age group, reflecting evolving understanding of how to identify at-risk patients more accurately.
Key Facts
- Caroline Bailey's contraceptive coil inadvertently led to the discovery of a 13cm stage three ovarian cancer in June 2023
- A CA125 blood test showing 72 U/ml prompted urgent investigation; levels above 35 U/ml warrant further testing in women over 40
- She underwent chemotherapy, a total hysterectomy, and additional treatment, and now has no evidence of disease
- Genetic testing revealed mutations increasing her risk of breast and ovarian cancer, prompting family screening and consideration of preventative surgery
- Ovarian cancer affects approximately 7,700 women annually in the UK, yet only 51.3% of patients in Wales began treatment within the 62-day target in July 2026
