Your Stories
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Mary: "I was also told that there was no connection between mine and my sister’s cancer"
Mary was diagnosed with both breast cancer and ovarian cancer before she found out she had a genetic risk. Now she reflects on how this discovery affected her family.
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Pamela: "I’m sharing my experience to help highlight the importance of an early diagnosis and effective treatment"
Pamela Bonati was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018 at the age of 78. She was fast-tracked by her GP for a swift diagnosis and quickly began a combination of surgery and chemo to treat the disease. Find out how Pamela is sharing her story to ensure all women, despite their age, receive the same standard of care.
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"I just thought of my Mum and all those other women fighting ovarian cancer." - Jack
11 year old Jack Carson ran 43 miles during February half term for Ovarian Cancer Action because he wanted to “support women and girls, like my Mum.” He tells us his story.
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Jacqui: "Forewarned is forearmed"
Not long after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Jacqui began to trace her family history which led her to discover she had a BRCA1 gene mutation and a sister she never knew she had.
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Teal warrior: Michelle's story
Mum of two grown up children, Michelle, shares her story of how her cancer diagnosis and family history led to her learning of her genetic risk.
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Laura shares her story: Ovarian Cancer Action's BBC Lifeline Appeal
Meet Laura, a primary school teacher from North London who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after she was originally misdiagnosed with IBS. Now she shares her story as part of Ovarian Cancer Action's BBC Lifeline Appeal.
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Rosie: "My family has benefited from major discoveries in the diagnosis and treatment of hereditary cancers that were years in the making."
This is Rosie, a 70-year-old retired pharmacist from Hertfordshire, who unknowingly inherited the BRCA1 gene mutation from her mum. Rosie will be shared her story as part of Ovarian Cancer Action's BBC Lifeline Appeal on 31st January.
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Suzie shares her story: Ovarian Cancer Action’s BBC Lifeline Appeal
Meet Suzie, and actress and singer who was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive ovarian cancer. She is now trying to get support for immunotherapy treatment, which is not provided on the NHS. Suzie will be sharing her story as part of Ovarian Cancer Action's BBC Lifeline Appeal on 31st January.
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“Our efforts will be for our daughters, and for women everywhere” Libby.
Libby sadly lost her friend Elaine to ovarian cancer in 2019. In her memory, she is organising a New Year’s Eve walk on one of Elaine’s favourite routes to raise money and awareness for the disease. This is Elaine’s story.
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Head shave for Sian
Harriet and Tatiana have been best friends through thick and thin, including when Tatiana’s mum, Sian, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. To prevent others from going through this experience, Harriet has shaved her head to raise awareness of the disease.
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Tiffany Basson: “At 17, my life was about to change dramatically”
Tiffany found out she had ovarian cancer when she was still a teenager, after months of doctors dismissing her symptoms. Now 30, she reflects on what it was like to be a young person coping with a cancer diagnosis. Read her story below.
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Catherine: "My wish is that no one else dies from undiagnosed peritoneal cancer."
Catherine lost her mum Alison to primary peritoneal cancer in 2012. Eight years on, she’s ready to share her story in the hope she can help others survive the disease.
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Lucky number 13
Lillian and two more generations of women in her family have been affected by cancer. Now, her family have set up an online clothing shop, 13 Shop, to support the research that could save other women from the disease.
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Carla: “A new chapter awaits”
In 2014, Carla was diagnosed with a BRCA1 gene mutation and made the decision to have a risk-reducing mastectomy. Fast forward to 2020, Carla shares an honest and open account of how she's feeling on the day before her next surgery.
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Jo Peek: “Everyone should have the opportunity to know what their genetic history is – it can save lives”
Jo explains what an unexpected opportunity to get a BRCA mutation test meant to her and generations of her family.
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Aimi Munro: Moving on
Over the last seven years, Aimi had preventative surgeries to lower her chances of being diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer. She shares why she chose surgery at the times she did, and how the decisions she made were right for her plans for a family.
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Rabbi Oliver: “The BRCA gene fault is much more prevalent in the Ashkenazi Jewish community."
By sharing his story, Rabbi Oliver hopes to help prevent cancer in Jewish communities.
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Charlie Morgan: Tits up! Finding the positive in a BRCA mutation
When Charlie was diagnosed with a BRCA2 mutation aged 20, she wanted to find and connect with other younger women who understood what she was going though and the options that lay ahead. Charlie shares her story and the experiences that led her to create the supportive community The BRCA Project.
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Gift Hamisi: "We don’t often hear the stories of people who have tested negative, that is why I share mine"
Back in 2018, Gift was awaiting the results of a BRCA gene test, which would tell her whether or not she had inherited the same genetic mutation as her mother and a heightened risk of cancer. Almost two years on, Gift shares what happened next
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Liz Driver: "The thing that upsets me the most is the general lack of interest in boys having the gene mutation."
Liz, a 48 year old married mum of two wonderful young men describes her experience of finding out she carries a BRCA2 gene mutation.