Breaking the Silence on Fibroids: Success, Struggles and Surgery

At 52, I’ve been fortunate to enjoy good health for most of my life. As a former professional dancer, I’ve always been active, now enjoying walking, spinning, weightlifting, and Pilates. Movement is not just about physical well-being for me, it’s a way to clear my mind and manage the demands of running my business, Razzamataz Theatre Schools, a UK based franchise that enjoys a high profile, thanks to my successful appearance on BBC’s Dragons’ Den.

For the past 25 years, I’ve dedicated myself to this franchise, growing it into a nationally recognised brand that has partnered with industry giants like Mattel, Warner Bros., and 20th Century Fox while providing high-quality performing arts education to thousands of children across the UK, and also supporting entrepreneurs to run their own successful schools.

Running a business of this scale brings me immense joy, but it also requires incredible resilience. The past few years have been even more demanding as we’ve been expanding internationally, particularly with our plans to launch our first franchise in the UAE. In addition to my business commitments, I’m also a mum to two boys, one of whom has Type 1 diabetes, an incredibly complex and demanding condition to manage. Balancing all these responsibilities means that looking after my health is a top priority. Exercise and proper nutrition have always been my tools for maintaining both my physical and mental well-being.

However, in October 2023, I started experiencing unusually heavy periods. This was a new and unexpected change for me, but I didn’t initially think too much of it. As the months passed and 2024 arrived, the situation worsened, not only were my periods extremely heavy, but they also became excruciatingly painful. I assumed it was menopause and something I simply had to endure. But my husband, Jason, was the one who urged me to seek medical advice, insisting that this level of pain wasn’t normal and that I shouldn’t just accept it.

Reluctantly, I made an appointment with my doctor in December 2024. After undergoing both internal and external scans, I received unexpected news: I had a large fibroid in my womb, and my uterine lining was unusually thick. More concerningly, I was placed on a cancer pathway for further investigations.

The uncertainty was overwhelming. I was given little information about my condition, and I struggled to find reliable resources online. Despite having a history of recurrent miscarriages, undergoing IVF, and being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), I realised I knew almost nothing about fibroids. Given the limited guidance from my initial consultations and the impact this was having on my daily life, Jason and I decided to seek private healthcare. It was an investment we felt was necessary so that I could fully understand what was happening and make an informed decision about my treatment.

By this point, my condition was severely affecting my work. The pain was so intense that I frequently had to cancel meetings and events, something I had never done before. Even planning holidays became impossible because my cycle had become so unpredictable, I couldn’t risk being in that level of pain while away from home.

When I met with my private consultant, everything finally became clearer. He explained that my fibroid was quite large, with half of it inside my womb and half outside, which accounted for the extreme pain and excessive bleeding. At last, I had a definitive explanation for my symptoms.

I was presented with two primary options: I could try hormonal treatments such as the pill or injections, or I could undergo surgery. After thorough research, I decided against hormonal treatments. At my age, the small increased risk of breast cancer was something I wanted to avoid, and there was no guarantee that the treatment would actually stop the pain. In some cases, hormonal treatments can even cause fibroids to grow larger. Additionally, this approach would require regular monitoring and scans, which would add another layer of disruption to my already busy life.

After weighing the pros and cons, I made the brave decision to proceed with surgery. I underwent the procedure at the end of February 2025. The difference was almost immediate. I recently had my first period post-surgery, and, unbelievably, I experienced no pain and only minimal bleeding. This confirmed that all of my symptoms had been due to the fibroid rather than menopause or my PCOS.

This might not be the right decision for everyone, but for me, it was absolutely the best choice. I’m sharing my story in the hope that it might help even one other woman going through a similar experience. Women are often conditioned to accept pain and discomfort as a normal part of life, especially when it comes to reproductive health. But if something doesn’t feel right, it’s crucial to seek answers and advocate for yourself.

Now that I’m feeling so much better, I can fully focus on my business again. Our expansion into Dubai is progressing, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead. Beyond that, I feel a renewed sense of energy and purpose, both personally and professionally. This experience has reinforced the importance of prioritising health, not just for the sake of managing symptoms but for overall quality of life.

// Denise Gosney

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Contact the Head Office on franchise@razzamataz.co.uk or Denise on WhatsApp  +44 7801843007 to find out about Razzamataz opportunities in Dubai.