Gurbachan Johal: "I know I am very lucky"

It was during Gurbachan's hysterectomy operation for fibroids that they discovered she had stage three ovarian cancer.

"My treatment the hardest thing I have ever gone through, but I was so lucky to have my husband - a great nurse - and lots of friends and family members to support me.

My husband has been an absolute rock.

He’s held me close when I’ve felt down, and wiped away my tears when I’ve cried. He’s rubbed my legs when they hurt, dressed me when I couldn’t dress myself, and cooked when I couldn’t. His support and love has made me strong.

My friends and family members have also been wonderful.

My son helped me by researching what my treatment would involve. My brothers and sisters phoned regularly, and visited to massage my legs when they were painful. My sister-in-law flew in from Canada to look after me for four weeks; and my husband’s family came to our house to cook for me, and phoned every day.

I know I am very lucky.

My treatment included three chemotherapy sessions, another operation to remove my ovarian tumour; and three more chemotherapy sessions.

I found that talking to people who had come through cancer was tremendously helpful – it was so useful to see that despite what they had been through they were OK.”

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