Dolly Parton’s publicist has confirmed she died after a “brief battle with cancer”
Dolly Parton and her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, in 2019(Image: Getty Images)
Dolly Parton has sadly died aged 80, prompting an outpour of tributes from around the world. While the country music legend was celebrated for her upbeat spirit, she is also said to have lived with an incurable condition that can cause debilitating pain.
Endometriosis is where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the uterus and it can trigger severe, widespread pain and, for many people, can also lead to infertility. Some undergo a hysterectomy to help manage symptoms, but it is not a cure.
While many shared personal memories of the singer, some paid tribute for a different reason. According to Page Six, in the early 1980s, the Jolene singer suffered from severe abdominal pain and heavy bleeding. She was hospitalised several times and underwent multiple procedures.
In 1982, she was forced to call off a tour as her health deteriorated, and she was later diagnosed with endometriosis.
Page Six then reported that in an interview with Closer Weekly, the songwriter underwent a partial hysterectomy in 1985, aged 36, in an attempt to ease her pain. The operation meant she could not have children – something she discussed candidly in the years that followed.
In tribute to the country icon, BBC presenter Emma Barnett shared her own story in a documentary Emma Barnett: Fighting Endometriosis. She spoke about her lifelong battle with the condition and revealed she had a hysterectomy, like Dolly.
In a post about the “9 to 5” singer after her death, she wrote: “Dolly – my endo and hysterectomy sister – thank you for bringing your dark into the light and still shining so very brightly. Go well – you Queen of a woman you.”
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is an incurable condition in which tissue like the lining of the womb (uterus) grows in other parts of the body. This tissue can react to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, potentially causing inflammation, pain and scarring.
It most commonly develops on the lining of the pelvis and can affect the ovaries. It can also spread to nearby organs such as the bowel or bladder. In some cases, endometriosis occurs outside the pelvis too, including in the chest.
The condition affects about 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth from puberty through to menopause, although symptoms can persist over the long term. In the UK, that equates to more than 1.5 million people of all races and ethnicities living with endometriosis.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
Common symptoms include:
- Difficulty getting pregnant – up to 70% of those with endometriosis will be able to get pregnant naturally
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Bloating
- Pelvic pain
- Fatigue
- Unexplained pain throughout the body
- Pain during or after sex
- Pain when urinating/peeing
- Painful periods that interfere with everyday life
- Painful bowel movements/when having a poo
