Bev was diagnosed with womb cancer in 2018, following treatment her cancer recurred in 2022. Bev was determined that something positive would come of her experience: she wrote a blog to help others and, while undergoing treatment for incurable cancer, set out to raise £10,000 in 10 months for Peaches. Well, she smashed it – raising £14,000 and donations and fundraising from family and friends continue.
Sadly, Bev died earlier this year. We are incredibly grateful for everything she did to increase awareness of womb cancer, raise funds for Peaches and her incredible ability to inspire numerous others to do the same.
Thank you to Bev, her family and friends.
In 2018, at the age of 61, Bev Playle began her cancer journey after receiving a diagnosis of a rare form of womb cancer. She entered the treatment lottery as different hospitals offered varying treatments for this type of womb cancer. In December 2018, Bev had a radical hysterectomy and as there was no cancer detected beyond the womb, received no adjuvant chemotherapy. In spring of 2019 after a number of follow-up appointments she received the news that her cancer was no longer evident. Life carried on as normal with 6 monthly reviews. However, in the summer of 2022, she started to feel that something wasn’t quite right, despite a review in June 2022 finding no concerns. Subsequent scans showed that her cancer had come back significantly and had now spread to her lungs and peritoneum. She was told at this stage that her cancer was metastatic and thus incurable but treatable.
Bev described having a lesser-known cancer as a lonely place, and having an even rarer form of that cancer even more isolating. In 2022 the only treatment option available was chemotherapy and Bev had a course of six rounds which initially appeared to successfully shrink the tumours. She felt well again and gradually began to get on with her life. However, after only 4 months it became evident that the cancer was growing again. Living with a cancer that so many people die from diminished her hope and the comfort of following a path that was already established.
In 2023 a brand-new immunotherapy treatment had been licenced for advanced womb cancer which Bev started on in December 2023. This gave her hope of a better quality of life while living with womb cancer even though she realised it wasn’t a cure. The potential benefits of immunotherapy don’t come without side effects and in spite of the fatigue, depression, digestive issues, and joint pain Bev bravely embarked on a journey that very few, up to that point, had taken. People often admire pioneers, but being the first taking a journey can be scary and unknown.
Bev wanted to find a purpose to her illness. She wanted something good to come of it. She wanted to make sure that anyone who got this disease wouldn’t have to forge their own path but have a path to follow that offers options and more hope. She not only shared her experience with her friends and family but started a blog detailing her journey to give hope to others who may need it now and after she is no longer here – https://beverleyplayle.wixsite.com/warriorprincess.
In February 2023 Bev vowed to raise £10k in 10 months, while undergoing treatment for an incurable cancer. She gathered her friends and family and inspired them to raise money for Peaches Womb Cancer Trust. Her friends and family were busy in the kitchen baking, running coffee mornings, asking for donation in place of birthday and anniversary gifts for their own special occasions and taking on their own personal challenges. Her daughter signed up for a run, thinking it was a 5k and then realised she had signed up for a half marathon (4 times the distance). Like her mum she carried on and faced what was ahead. On the day of her run her car broke down, many people would have gone home, but she jumped on a bus to make sure she completed the event. She raised money and added it to Bev’s page. A friend of Bev’s had broken her wrist and was told she was never going to play her beloved guitar again, she set about putting this right and has been re-learning the guitar despite her injury and detailing her progress on just giving and raising money for Peaches womb cancer trust in the process. Bev’s cousin Babs and her husband celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in style in France asking all the guests to donate to Bev’s page rather than give presents. A charity brunch, hosted by Bev and her husband raised over £1,500.
Bev vowed that she wouldn’t give up raising awareness of and funds for womb cancer, saying: “It doesn’t seem right that so many women are facing this frightening illness alone. There should be more options for treatment and more support. I’ll do all I can to help raise awareness and much needed funds. It’s the only way I know to fight back against this vile cancer”.
Sadly, in May 2024 Bev’s cancer began to affect her breathing and after a two-week admission to hospital she was discharged home to be with her family and on the 20th June 2024 she died peacefully with those she loved around her.
Bev inspired so many people to do good things not because it is easy but because they wanted to help her leave a lasting legacy. A legacy that, through the work of Peaches Womb Cancer Trust, will help to raise awareness, provide more support and research or other people who will need it following a rare womb cancer diagnosis making sure that no one feels alone. As we write this tribute, Bev has raised almost £14,000 for Peaches and the money continues to come in.
Bev was a truly inspirational woman who dedicated the final part of her cancer journey to making a difference and had fun in the process despite her health constraints. It strengthened her relationships with friends and drew more of them together as a team to support the work of Peaches in defeating this disease and helping others. You can read more about Bev’s life on her blog or at https://bevplayle.muchloved.com/.
