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Woman's Cancer Hidden in NHS App Signs
27 Nov
Summary
- Crystal Portsmouth's cancer signs were visible on her NHS app.
- Years of heavy periods and fatigue were initially misdiagnosed.
- She collapsed at work before receiving her incurable cancer diagnosis.
Crystal Portsmouth, a 50-year-old mother of five from Wiltshire, endured years of severe fatigue and extremely heavy periods, often experiencing "flooding" that overwhelmed sanitary products. Her GPs attributed these symptoms to fibroids and perimenopause, prescribing iron tablets and HRT. Despite persistent issues, including urinary tract infections from an IUD, her condition was not accurately diagnosed.
The turning point came in April 2023 when Crystal collapsed at work. This event led to a series of tests, including scans and a bone marrow biopsy, which in July 2024 confirmed she had incurable myeloma. She later realized that evidence of her illness had been present on her NHS app all along.
Crystal underwent intensive treatment, including a stem cell transplant as part of the Radar clinical trial. Although she missed significant family events due to side effects, she is now in remission and undergoing maintenance chemotherapy. She is focusing on recovery and advocating for earlier diagnosis of myeloma through Myeloma UK's Christmas Appeal.
