Blaydon yoga teacher shines light on ‘silent killer’ cancer that took her completely by surprise

A Blaydon yoga teacher has spoken out about cancer being a ‘silent killer’ which took her completely by surprise.

Julia Carr, 53, a yoga and Pilates teacher, was diagnosed with high-grade endometrial cancer last September. Surprisingly, she has had few symptoms and now advises women to be extra vigilant about changes in their bodies.

Julia initially went to the doctor, thinking the light spotting she had been experiencing could be related to the menopause. But after a check-up, she was diagnosed with cancer. She has since made a full recovery after a hysterectomy and radiotherapy. Julia said she even started doing pilates and yoga again within a fortnight.

Julia said: “Last August I was diagnosed with high-grade endometrial cancer. The day before I had taught 14 classes. I feel really lucky, I didn’t really feel like there was anything wrong with me at all.

“My symptoms were incredibly mild – I just had some light bleeding and I thought it might be related to the menopause. But I saw a doctor and he said I wanted to do all the tests. A few weeks later I was told to come in. A few days later I had a full hysterectomy.

“And because it was a high-grade cancer, I then had radiotherapy. I was very lucky that the cancer was caught at stage 1. I’m 53 and I’m incredibly lucky that it was caught so early and I want to stress to women that if they feel anything abnormal – whether they’re menopausal or perimenopausal or whatever – they need to get it checked out.

“It’s a silent killer. I was fit and healthy, doing everything normally the day before I was diagnosed. I never thought it would be cancer.”

She is now set to take part in the Newcastle Pretty Muddy 5k next weekend with a team of supporters and colleagues at Inline Fitness gym in Blaydon.

Julia, who said she received “amazing” care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said staying as healthy as possible, including yoga and Pilates, had been incredibly helpful in getting through her treatment.

To support Julia’s fundraising for Cancer Research UK, click here.