Kerry Katona makes arrangements for kids as she 'feared death' after cancer scare: 'Pain became unbearable'
Kerry Katona opened up about her cancer scare
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Kerry Katona has opened up about her shocking cancer scare after suffering from excruciating symptoms and pains for months on end - she was soon seeing the doctor and getting tested for the illness.
The 43-year-old was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2020 and was hospitalised two months ago - the condition means that tissue embeds itself into other organs and can be extremely painful and cause fertility issues.
Katona has been living with the condition for four years, on top of her scoliosis, but when the pain intensified and left her in tears, doctors suggested they run further tests.
"The pain became unbearable," she told OK! magazine. "I'm used to feeling sore because of my scoliosis, but it was getting to the point I wasn't sleeping.
"I would be up all night and I'd also isolate myself one week every month because I couldn't do anything. I couldn't move and I'd be constantly crying."
When the results came back, it showed a cyst on her right ovary, which she explained didn't worry the doctors too much because of her endometriosis - but it was the blood in her cervix which caused concern.
Kerry Katona assured fans on her Instagram that she was OK and had been given the all clear
Trying to take her mind off the issue, Katona jetted off to Spain with her fiancé Ryan Mahoney, 36, but admitted she went to a dark place and began making plans for her kids' future.
Katona is mum to Molly, 22, Lilly, 21, Heidi, 17, Max, 16, and 10-year-old Dylan-Jorge, and said, "When I got that news, in my head I thought 'I've got cancer, I'm going to die'. That's why Ryan and I went away by ourselves.
"I was in so much pain on holiday at one point I was at the pool bent over and crying. It felt like someone had a Stanley knife and was cutting me inside. And the pain didn't stop in one area it goes to my hips, my back and my legs feel like they're being ripped apart.
"I was terrified and said to Ryan, 'We need to get married right now and you need to adopt DJ'. If I die, she doesn't have a legal guardian so I was forced to have those conversations.
Kerry has five children and is engaged to Ryan Mahoney
"Ryan has basically raised DJ but we need to work out a plan if the worst happens and get all our ducks in a row. So many things were going through my head, like it being cervical cancer or womb cancer."
The former Atomic Kitten singer admitted the scare made her think of Jade Goody - who died in 2009 from cervical cancer - and how her kids were left without a mum.
"I've been open with my kids about what I'm going through. It was an awful conversation to have but it was important for me that they understood what could happen."
Days after returning from her holiday, Katona thankfully got some good news and was told that her cervix was clear of blood and there were no signs of cancer.
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Kerry and Ryan went to Spain to get away from the ongoing health issues
Despite getting the all clear, Katona admitted that it made her think of her future with her kids and Mahoney, and has contemplated having a hysterectomy to alleviate the pain.
She added to OK!: "The tests showed there's no cancer in my cervix, which is great news and put my mind at ease a bit, but the pain hasn't stopped. It's made me consider a hysterectomy.
"I'm at an age where I don't want any more kids so if it could help with the constant pain I'm in, then I'm seriously thinking about it."