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I got cancer at 23 – my doctor was wrong to reassure me
Sarah Lai
Published February 22, 2026 4:00pm
Updated February 23, 2026 10:16am
In spite of all of the shock, and the fear, I was feeling, I was also somewhat relieved to know what was wrong with me (Picture: Sarah )
‘Unfortunately, you’ve got endometrial cancer’.
Sitting in my doctor’s office in October 2025, next to my friend Carly*, I was consumed by shock.
My doctor told me it was rare for people under 50 to get endometrial cancer. I was 23.
In fact, she told me that I was one of the youngest cases that she’s ever had to diagnose with cancer.
When I got out in the hallway, I started screaming – I had to let it out somehow.
Eventually I calmed down. Carly and I were silent on the way home.
In spite of all of the shock, and the fear, I was feeling, I was also somewhat relieved to know what was wrong with me, after two months of symptoms that I couldn’t explain.
Now, at least, I knew.
It had all begun in August of that year, with bloating and heavy bleeding.
That month, my period lasted longer than usual. It had been 10 days, but I put it down to my polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which I was diagnosed with a few years earlier.
But a few days later, I started getting blood clots the size of golf balls. And after two weeks, my period was still there.
Things started to move fast from then on (Picture: Sarah )
After a trip to the emergency department that same month, I was told by the doctor on call that I needed to see a specialist, because it was clear something was horribly wrong.
Scans showed that I had a very thick uterine lining, so I underwent a hysteroscopy – where a camera was used to examine the inside of my uterus – and other tests.
Given my medical history and age, my gynaecologist was confident that I had a very low chance of having cancer – and I believed her.
But just 10 days later I got a call telling me to book an appointment right away, and to bring a friend for support.
I did – and that was the day my doctor told me I had cancer.
Things started to move fast from then on.
I didn’t have chemotherapy, but I was put on the hormonal IUD when I had the initial hysteroscopy.
My gynaecologist had explained at the time that it would reduce my symptoms, even before we knew it was cancer.
Suddenly, I was having to make decisions about my future, and my fertility, that it felt like no one else my age was thinking about.
I felt so unsure about everything, and had so many questions.
After I was diagnosed, I was so isolated, making big decisions that it felt like no one else my age had to (Picture: Sarah )
My partner Tim* and I had to have serious conversations about each other’s values, and views on children and parenthood.
My oncologist had recommended that I freeze my eggs and go through IVF to preserve my fertility, just in case I did decide to have children, but I decided against it at the time.
Egg freezing felt like just another treatment to go through, more injections, more hormones. I didn’t want to go through the psychological barrier of administering needles everyday.
While Tim was supportive of my choice not to freeze my eggs, he saw himself becoming a father one day.
But at that point, I had one goal, and one goal only – to fight cancer. All I could think was, ‘get me out of this alive’.
After I was diagnosed, I was so isolated, making big decisions that it felt like no one else my age had to, growing up faster than everyone else.
But my friends, family and Tim helped me to push through the days I felt like giving up. Tim never judged me for feeling a certain way and allowed me to freely talk about my anxiety and dark thoughts. Even in moments of silence, just having him there next to me was incredibly powerful.
But I wanted to do more to feel less alone. To combat the feeling of isolation. So I started sharing my story on TikTok, and it helped give me a voice, and connect with people online who have had similar experiences.
I felt empowered. The more I shared, the more it felt like I was able to help other women, and raise awareness.
In January this year, my doctor called me to tell me the latest test showed that there was no evidence of cancer in my uterus.
To my surprise, I had mixed feelings about the good news. I was grateful I had made it out the other side but I was also struggling with an identity shift.
I had established a new normal as someone living with cancer, so when this changed overnight, it felt like I had to start again. I also felt guilty that I’d only had to fight cancer for a few months. I didn’t understand why I’d gotten so lucky.
I faced mortality, and it changed me (Picture: Sarah )
But the main thing is that I’m now cancer-free, and I can focus on my recovery.
I’ll continue to have hysteroscopies every six to 12 months for the next several years to check on my health, and will remain on the IUD.
As for children, I’m glad I wasn’t rushed into freezing my eggs. I wasn’t ready. I’ve been told that if I decide to have children, I can take my IUD out, then once I’m done with having children, I will need a total hysterectomy.
There’s a chance I will be put into surgical menopause, too, but that is something I would have to think about in the future.
I feel different, having survived cancer. I faced mortality, and it changed me. I’m starting to really understand what living in the moment means.
If I could give people any advice, it would be to listen to your body, and don’t wait until your symptoms become unbearable before you see a doctor. Much of the time – too often, in fact – we’re told to hold our pain, but it’s important that we pay attention to what is happening to us.
And just because you’re young doesn’t mean you won’t get cancer.
I’m young, very healthy, and I still got diagnosed.
Get yourself checked.
*Names have been changed.
