Your Stories

Ameena: I often feel like a ticking time bomb

Ameena had long suspected that the many cases of cancer in her family, including her own, were linked to a hereditary cause. Here she tells her story of uncovering her family's inherited risk.

Chrissie: “All I want now is another Christmas with my family and friends”

Chrissie tells us about her ovarian cancer story; from the initial symptoms and getting a diagnosis, to being a mother whilst living with cancer. Chrissie's remarkable story ends with one wish: more cherished moments with loved ones.

Linsey: “My wonderful Mum could still be alive today - if only the GP had done two simple things”

Linsey tells us the story of her mother, Anne who was diagnosed with Stage 4c ovarian cancer in 2011, after switching to a private GP. Here, she tells us of her mum's struggle with getting a diagnosis, treatment and what she wants all women to do if they suspect they're experiencing ovarian cancer symptoms.

Sophie: “I was told I had a harmless cyst - then I was diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumour”

Sophie tells her ovarian cancer story. How she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and planning for the future.

Nola: I ignored my symptoms, but a research trial discovered I had ovarian cancer

Nola shares her story to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and ovarian cancer research trials. Before Nola was diagnosed, she experienced many symptoms but didn’t realise they were associated with ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed with stage 3c serous cancer in May 2022.

Laura: My symptoms returned - I put them to the back of my mind

Laura spoke to us in 2019 about her ovarian cancer diagnosis a few years prior to help us raise awareness of the symptoms to look out for. Recently, Laura found herself noticing ovarian cancer symptoms again, here she talks about her ovarian recurrence.

Rose: I wish I pushed for answers

Rose talks through her ovarian cancer experience - including the ovarian cancer symptoms she experiences, the delays in her diagnosis and not being taken seriously when her cysts were discovered.

Alex: Not getting involved with Ovarian Cancer Action was not an option

After witnessing what his wife, Vicky, went through, Alex knew that not getting involved with Ovarian Cancer Action wasn't an option. He decided to raise £75,000 in her name and continues to raise money towards changing the outcome for the next generation. 

Liz: “I lost my daughter to ovarian cancer - she died within a year of her diagnosis"

Louise’s Mum, Liz, shares her daughter’s story. She talks about the symptoms she experienced and highlights the injustice her loved one faced.

Emma: ‘I was diagnosed with endometriosis, then discovered I had ovarian cancer’

Emma, now aged 42, found out that she had a cyst on her ovary at a routine ultrasound in 2022, during her treatment for endometriosis. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer one year later, after a cyst grew rapidly on her other ovary.

Emma shares her journey to diagnosis, how she has managed to retain a positive outlook during her treatment, and her advice for other women with ovarian cancer.

Sarah – ‘this diagnosis doesn’t mean the end of your life – you are still living’

In May 2016, Sarah sat by her 94 year old Grandma’s side whilst she died of ovarian cancer. Her Great Grandmother had died of it in her 60’s too. 18 months later, Sarah’s experience of ovarian cancer became even more personal.

Mary: ‘I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at only 12 years old - but it’s not stopped me from following my dreams’

Doctors made the horrifying discovery that Mary had an ovarian tumour when she was just a child.

Here Mary, who is now 22, talks about diagnosis, and how her resilience and passion for dance has given her hope for the future.

Harriet: "‘I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just weeks after I’d had a baby’

Mum-of-three Harriet was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer in 2022.

Harriet was told that she had two ovarian cysts during a routine pregnancy ultrasound. But shockingly, she did not discover that she had an ovarian tumour until her daughter Maddison was born.

Marilyn: ‘I was scared, so I buried my head in the sand and ignored my symptoms’

Marilyn was diagnosed with a rare form of high grade ovarian cancer in early 2022. Here she highlights why she was reluctant to visit the GP, and why it’s vital women are equipped with the information about ovarian cancer as soon as possible. 

Marilyn is determined to make sure no other woman has to go through what she did.

Fiona: “I’m proud of who I’ve become since my diagnosis, but I wish I had undergone a different treatment”

Fiona was diagnosed with a rare type of ovarian cancer in 2007, aged 25. Now, celebrating 15 years since her diagnosis, Fiona reflects on her journey so far and shares her experiences to highlight the reality of living with ovarian cancer.

Alexandria: ‘I had ovarian cancer, that’s why I’m discovering breakthroughs for other women with the disease’

Alexandria was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer in 2014, while she was at university studying to become a scientist.

Her experience fuelled a passion to study ovarian cancer research, and improve diagnosis and treatment for other women. It’s been eight years since Alexandria finished her treatment, and she’s now proudly working at our Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre. Alexandria passed her thesis defence is 2023 and is now has a PHD in cancer studies. 

Here she shares her story.

Olivia – ‘Mum was not only a parent but, as an only child, she was my best friend, and Dad’s best friend too.’

Ellen Javed passed away from ovarian cancer in May 2020, in the midst of the Covid pandemic and weeks after her daughter Olivia had turned 21. In this heartfelt tribute, Olivia tells her story and how her mum’s strength and resilience shone through, even at the hardest of times.

Gemma - 'Why we need better testing for ovarian cancer'

Gemma was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, aged 34. Here she shares her story, including how her ovarian cancer was discovered while she had womb cancer, and why improved testing is vital to early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Gemma talks about her experience of testing and how, bizarrely, she was ‘lucky’ her cancer was found relatively early - because she had another cancer.

Hollie: “We must do more to save the lives of women like my mum”

Helen Clarke was diagnosed ovarian cancer in 2015, aged 57. Helen was misdiagnosed time and time again, even when her cancer returned. Sadly, she passed away from ovarian cancer in March 2018.

Five years on, Helen’s daughter, Hollie, highlights why we need to educate others about the disease and why early and accurate diagnosis is vital.

In Margaret's Name - her story, told by her husband

Margaret Anne Scougal was born in 1952. At the age of 16, she became a cadet nurse at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle. Upon retirement, she had been a business manager, ward sister and matron of orthopaedics. She helped to train scores of nurses starting out. Years later some of those very same nurses treated her for ovarian cancer. Margaret died in June 2021 aged 69. This is her story, as told by her husband, Tony.