Your Stories
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Deborah Ward-Johnstone: "Realising what’s valuable in life has pushed me to create adventures"
Diagnosed with bowel cancer at 29, Deborah was diagnosed with Lynch syndrome. She shares how her mindset changed since finding out about the mutation. -
June Toner: "I never lost faith that things would turn around for me"
Back in early 2020, June shared her story. Her diagnosis of ovarian cancer was terminal and she knew treatment could only extend her life not save it. Sadly, she passed away in June of that year but we have kept her story available to highlight her incredible positivity, how grateful she was for all the support she received and her thanks to pioneering research that gave her more time.
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Bethany Dinsley: "Everyone was complimenting me on losing weight"
Bethany was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was just 19. She shares her story.
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Alison Smith: “When I got my results - and I was told I didn’t need chemotherapy - I was over the moon!”
Alison shares her story in the hope that other women will seek advice or get a second opinion.
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Emily Jackson: "Due to my mum having had breast and ovarian cancer, I knew the symptoms to look out for."
Mum of two Emily Jackson shares her story, from finding out about her BRCA status to an ovarian cancer diagnosis, aged just 28. -
Tina Wright: "Cancer doesn't need to be a death sentence"
Tina's ovarian cancer recently returned having been diagnosed 9 years ago. She urges women not to be scared of seeking the information or help they need.
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Karen Lamont: "Early diagnosis is the key."
Karen was diagnosed with ovarian cancer aged 19. Now 30 years after her diagnosis, she shares her story.
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Sarah Passby: "I am really well and back to living a normal life"
Sarah Passby was diagnosed with stage 3a ovarian cancer in March 2016 and underwent chemotherapy. She shares her story and explains why she is so passionate about raising awareness of the disease.
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Diane Evans-Wood: "Once you accept your new kind of normal, life can resume and you can still have fun."
Diane Evans-Wood was working as a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013. She shares her story — from the early symptoms through to diagnosis and treatment.
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Fiona Munro: "I want to raise awareness that young women are also at risk of ovarian cancer"
Fiona was with diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer in February 2016 at the age of 30. She has since devoted her energy to helping other young women with ovarian cancer, and has even written a book about her journey.
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Claudia Gore: "We need to look after our minds too"
Claudia Gore, 47, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years ago. She shares the story of her early symptoms, her diagnosis and treatment. Claudia also describes the impact of her ovarian cancer experience on her mental health and why sessions with a psychologist helped so much.
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Louise Mitchell: "Cancer has taken a lot from me, but it’s left me with a totally new perspective on life"
Louise was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after a pregnancy scan detected a mass on one of her ovaries. Now two years on from her diagnosis, she has thrown herself back into fitness and is determined to find the positives in her experience.
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Maureen Powell: "I want to make the most of life and don’t want to miss out on all the wonderful experiences that it brings us"
Maureen was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer last year, aged 50. It has not been an easy journey but after taking part in a clinical trial, she is now in remission and intends to make the most of life.
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Jo Blankley: "When I look back to that time, I realise how easy it would have been to have ignored my symptoms"
Jo Blankley was diagnosed with ovarian cancer aged 29. Eight years on from her diagnosis, she shares her story to encourage other women to listen to their bodies and to act on anything that doesn't feel right...
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Kim Gray: "Cancer is not just a physical disease, but also a mental one"
Kim is now two and a half years NED (no evidence of disease) since finishing chemo and hopes her story will provide support and encouragement for other women who have just been diagnosed, or who are going through treatment.
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Debbie Sharp: "It was harder for my husband and close family – I think it always is"
Always determined to make the best of any situation, Debbie hopes that by sharing her ovarian cancer journey, from diagnosis through to treatment and surgery, will not only help other women in similar situations but also raise awareness of the symptoms.
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Janet Tindall: "I don’t know if being on the clinical trial made a difference or not but I certainly had very good results"
Janet was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015, aged 68 and participated in an Avastin trial. She reflects on the challenges of treatment and her journey so far.
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Paula Cann: "I’m so grateful that I went to my GP as soon as I noticed something wasn’t right"
Paula Cann was experiencing the classic symptoms of ovarian cancer but she was diagnosed with a cyst that was only removed due to its size. Two weeks later she discovered that the cyst was cancerous and that she needed chemotherapy...
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Laura Roberts: "I still find that most people are surprised I got the genetic mutation from my dad"
Laura Roberts is 39 and has a BRCA1 mutation. She found out she was BRCA1+ about 14 years ago when she was tested for the gene at the Royal Marsden hospital in London.
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Chris Treanor: " I was taken to theatre and woke up to be told I'd had a hysterectomy and my omentum had been removed"
Chris first experienced symptoms of ovarian cancer in October 2007 aged 51. She credits the vigilance of her GP for her early diagnosis.