Mandy Wood, a 45-year-old mother from Nova Scotia, who unfortunately passed away from a rare aggressive form of vulvar cancer on Christmas Day. Her battle was made all the more difficult by a misdiagnosis of almost two years. In January 2023, she noticed a lump opening her vaginal opening. Initially shocked, this shocking discovery made her rush to a doctor’s office. Sadly, it took way too long for her doctors to come up with an accurate diagnosis.
On October 23, 2023, her doctors gave Mandy the shocking news that she had only months to live. After a year of confusion and lack of communication among the healthcare system, she continued to face challenges of late-stage diagnosis. This news placed her and her family in utter shock. Mandy’s husband Brett, and their two children, Adam and Olivia are now left to deal with the tragic reality of life without her.
Mandy spent almost 25 years of her life working at MBS Truro Stations. Beauty was loved and respected by her peers, through and through, for her warmth and positivity, even amidst the struggles she endured. She reminisced on her personal experience in the healthcare industry and shared her hope for change. I agree, we should make it more accessible to go see gynecological care,” she stated. A great deal can change in two years, however. And that’s a ridiculous wait time.”
The circumstances leading up to Mandy’s diagnosis should alarm everyone, shining a light on the barriers and lack of responsiveness that currently permeate gynecological healthcare. Michelle Thompson, an advocate for the approximately 20 million Americans still stuck in this broken system, lamented history repeating itself.
“I didn’t think the system responded in the way it needed to,” – Michelle Thompson
Mandy’s story is illustrative of a larger challenge that exists within healthcare, which she expressed in the video as the emotional cost of misdiagnosis.
“I went misdiagnosed for over a year, which I try not to dwell on too much … you know, what could have been,” – Mandy Wood
Despite all the hardship she was going through, Mandy was always positive. In her immeasurable faith filled optimism, she would frequently wish for her trials to produce something redeeming.
“I’ve been given some terrible lemons. But let’s try and make a little lemonade out of it. I need there to be something to come out of this, something positive. Because I can’t be going through all of this just for nothing,” – [No specific source mentioned but said by a female]
Mandy’s death has shocked, saddened, and inspired action by many with calls for expanding and improving upon the availability of women’s health services. Her diagnosis uncovers an awful set of facts that truly illuminate our systemic issues. It further makes clear the urgent need for timely medical response.
