Fatiha El-Ghorri has revealed that she has had surgery for cancer, and spoken frankly about how difficult she has found it to live with the consequences.

The 44-year-old has undergone a ‘forced/medical menopause’ following the hysterectomy she had last May.

‘The toughest and most painful part of this is the menopause,’ the Taskmaster star wrote on Instagram. ‘I’ve had a[n] organ removed and I’ve lost vital hormones overnight. It’s been so difficult.’ 

El-Ghorri had a scan last February which revealed something abnormal in her womb. Further tests suggested she may have cancer, and she was advised to undergo a precautionary hysterectomy.

She said her doctor told her ‘it’s possible that it isn’t cancer but the only way we could know for sure is if I had the operation’.

To remove the uncertainty, she had the operation and also chose to have her ovaries removed at the same time, explaining:  ‘I knew that if it was cancer and I still had my ovaries, I’d need chemo and more possible surgery.’

It was later confirmed she did have stage 1 endometrial cancer, and the comic said: ‘Thankfully I didn’t need chemo, further treatment or surgery because it had not spread beyond my womb so they were able to remove it all.

But she admitted she found the menopause difficult to deal with – particularly as she couldn’t get a specialist appointment until December, all while still dealing with the physical effects of the operation which restricted her movements. ‘I couldn’t lift anything, pick up anything off the floor or do my shoelaces… I felt so helpless and this made me feel ashamed.

El-Ghorri said that while waiting for her appointment: ‘I was crying every day. I was depressed and sad. I felt lost. I felt stuck in my mind and body. There was no help for me. I felt alone and abandoned.

‘I kept on calling them to chase my appointment and they just kept on telling me to wait. I couldn't wait any longer so I ended up going private for my menopause care.’

That medic gave her vitamins and supplements which she said helped her greatly.

The comedian said in her post: ‘People think the menopause is hot flushes and mood swings but it’s so much more than that. ‘It’s low mood, vaginal dryness (to the point where it’s painful), change in appetite, dry skin, change in hair, depression, memory problems – to name just a few!’

‘We have to do more, menopause ain’t a joke. It changes your life forever, physically, mentally and hormonally.’

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Fatiha El-Ghorri (@fatiha.elghorri)

El-Ghorri explained that she wanted to share her story ‘for all the people that are suffering now and that will suffer with menopause. For the people like my mum and grandmother who suffered before me with absolutely no support or treatment.’

Many fellow comics rushed to offer their support online.

Suzi Ruffell said: ‘Sending you much love’; Sarah Millican said: ‘So much love and strength to you. Thank you for sharing this’; and Katherine Ryan wrote: ‘This will help so many & I admire you more than ever (which was a lot to begin with).’