Your Stories
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Talya: “Genetic testing has allowed me to take control of something I’d previously had no control over."
People of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage are ten times more likely to carry a BRCA gene mutation that heightens a person’s risk of certain cancers, including ovarian. Talya Schneider shares her story in the hope that more Jewish families can stay together, for longer.
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Personal experiences
22 March 2021
Dinah: "Niraparib has given me hope"
Primary school teacher Dinah Lewis shares her experience of ovarian cancer and the maintenance treatment niraparib.
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Carolyn: "More than anything, she was the heart of our family"
Carolyn sadly lost her mum to ovarian cancer 18 months ago. Now she is determined to raise money for the vital research that will create better treatments, earlier detection and methods of prevention. Read her story below.
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DNA Family Secrets: Duri Mehmet shares her story as part of BBC Two documentary
Duri Mehmet, one of the founding members of our Next Generation Women's Collective, sadly lost her mum to ovarian cancer nine years ago, she then discovered that the disease runs in her family. Duri shared her journey as part of BBC Two documentary called DNA Family Secrets on the 9th March 2021. This is her full story.
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Issy: "My mum is the reason we are fundraising for Ovarian Cancer Action"
Issy lost her mum Lydia two years ago to ovarian cancer. Now she and her family take part in our Walk In Her Name Step Challenge in order to raise money for a screening tool. This is her story.
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Personal experiences
01 March 2021
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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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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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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Personal experiences
06 December 2020
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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Personal experiences
02 December 2020
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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Kirsty: “My wish for the future, is that together we can make ovarian cancer a disease every woman survives.”
Kirsty Chisholm was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer at just 29 years old. At the time, she and her husband were newly married and couldn’t wait to start their family. But they soon realised it wasn’t going to be that simple.
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Emma: "Never in my life did I think it would be me, especially not at 20"
It all started earlier in the year when I developed symptoms like having to get up to wee a lot during the night, feeling sick all the time and losing my appetite. The doctors and I both put it down to IBS, never in my life did I think it would be cancer.
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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 mutation is much more prevalent in the Ashkenazi Jewish community."
By sharing his story, Rabbi Oliver hopes to help prevent cancer in Jewish communities.
