Jo, 56, was diagnosed with stage 2 high-grade endometrial cancer in February 2025. Following her diagnosis, she was treated at The Royal Marsden under the care of Mr John Butler and Dr Susan Lalondrelle, undergoing a radical hysterectomy followed by 25 sessions of radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Despite the challenges of her diagnosis and treatment, Jo was able to keep her wedding date as planned, marrying her partner in Scotland in June 2025, just one week after completing treatment.
Getting an unexpected cancer diagnosis
Jo describes her diagnosis as a complete shock. Having always been active and healthy, she never expected to be diagnosed with cancer. After noticing changes in her body, she initially sought medical advice from her private doctor and gynaecologist. However, following various tests, nothing was identified, and she was told her symptoms would likely go away. When they persisted, Jo decided to visit her NHS GP, who immediately referred her through the two-week cancer pathway. Following an internal ultrasound and hysteroscopy, she received her endometrial cancer diagnosis.
“I was in absolute bits; I was due to get married five months later,” Jo recalls.
Jo's father, who had previously been treated for two different types of cancer at The Royal Marsden, encouraged her family to get her seen there as soon as possible. She was quickly put in touch with Mr John Butler, marking the beginning of her treatment journey.
Surgery and radiotherapy at The Royal Marsden
Within a week of her diagnosis, Jo underwent a radical hysterectomy at The Royal Marsden in Chelsea under the care of John Butler. Following surgery, histology results confirmed stage 2, high-grade endometrial cancer. She also experienced sepsis shortly afterwards, requiring a further hospital admission. Jo knew she would need additional treatment and, following discussions with her medical team, decided to pursue radiotherapy rather than chemotherapy. She was treated under Dr Susan Lalondrelle, receiving 25 sessions of radiotherapy in Sutton, followed by brachytherapy in Chelsea.
Jo credits the team at The Royal Marsden with making her treatment experience as comfortable and reassuring as possible. She particularly remembers the kindness of the nurses and radiographers, who took the time to explain everything and ensure she always knew what was happening.
“The whole team created such a supportive environment…There was never a time where I didn't know what was happening. Everything was explained so well.”
Despite the challenges of treatment, Jo experienced very few side effects and was able to continue working full time, being a mum and walking her dog throughout.
Wedding bells!
One of the most important things for Jo was being able to keep her wedding date. The Royal Marsden radiotherapy teams worked hard to fit her treatment into the available timeframe, ensuring she could complete it before travelling to Scotland. The day after her final treatment session, Jo travelled to Scotland and married her partner on 13 June 2025, just a week later.
She describes feeling enormous gratitude that she was able to go ahead with the wedding as planned, particularly after receiving her diagnosis just five months earlier. Her husband and two children were also a huge source of support throughout her treatment.
Life after treatment
Throughout her treatment, Jo continued running her interior architecture and design business near Guildford. She explains that keeping busy and continuing to work was a positive part of her experience, giving her something to focus on beyond her diagnosis. She even brought her assistant along to some hospital appointments, while her clients remained unaware of what she was going through behind the scenes.
Now that treatment has finished, Jo is back at The Royal Marsden every three months for tests and monitoring. All her tests since treatment have been clear so far. Naturally a positive person, Jo is keen to focus on how well her treatment has gone rather than worrying about the possibility of her cancer returning.
Outside of work, Jo enjoys supporting young artists through an in-house gallery at her design studio. She also runs a charity for disabled children and spends much of her spare time fundraising and supporting others.
Why sharing her story matters
Jo is keen to share her experience in the hope that it will help others facing an endometrial cancer diagnosis. When she was first diagnosed, she found herself searching for someone who had experienced something similar. Now, she hopes her story can offer reassurance to others going through their own treatment journeys.
Jo hopes that by sharing her experience, she can give something back and help others feel less alone when navigating their own diagnosis and treatment.