A teenager who was told she was having bad period pain was shocked when doctors finally discovered a football-sized cyst which had 'killed' her ovary.
Rebecca Woodthorpe had experienced sharp 'stabbing' pains during her time of the month, and also pain in her kidneys, thigh and abdomen, since the age of 12.
After initially blaming it on period pain, doctors eventually discovered an 11cm mass - and by the time they removed it three months ago it had grown to the size of a football.
The cyst had twisted around 18-year-old Rebecca's ovary twice and killed the organ - turning it black so it had to be removed.
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The tumour was benign, and Rebecca is now recovering and hopes her remaining ovary will allow her to have children in the future.
The student, from Lincoln, said: "I was in so much pain, it was a relief to have my ovary and the cyst removed.
"I did worry about the possibility of having children in the future, but I still have one ovary so I hope I'll be able to become a mum one day."
Rebecca said she started experiencing symptoms when she was just 12, but doctors said it was 'period pain' and put her on the pill.
She said: "I was experiencing kidney pain in my left side, strong left thigh pain, abdominal and period pain and at each time of the month I would get a sharp stabbing that would last seconds but was horrific."
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Aged 14, in 2015, she went back to the doctors because the pain was getting much worse, but claims she was told it was "probably nothing".
The pain increased again by November 2017 and she had an ultrasound, which revealed the cyst.
"At the scan I went in alone and the radiologist just happened to scan over my ovary before looking at the kidney and saw the cyst," she said.
"The lady told me it would need further action and I really panicked as hospitals make me nervous.
"I left the room and told my parents. They were both shocked."
Rebecca had a unilateral salpingo-ophorectomy in February 2018.
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She said: "I was under for two-and-a-half hours and in recovery for one hour. My parents waited outside recovery in the corridor the whole time.
"I was in hospital for four days, due to complications - I couldn't wee and my stomach expanded and was too hard.
"After examining it they thankfully said it was benign."
It took Rebecca several months to recover from the procedure, and she said her parents Anne and Paul, both 42, have been supportive.
She said: "They have helped and supported me through everything and it was hard on them too.
"They stayed with me every day all day and looked after me before and after.
"They really deserve a medal."
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