Holly-Jayne: “Ovarian cancer will never be able to beat me.”

Being diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer at just 25 years old is something no one ever expects.

For months, Holly‑Jayne was desperately unwell. Severe bloating, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, extreme weight loss and fatigue were repeatedly dismissed as acid reflux or anxiety. Like many young women with ovarian cancer, she was misdiagnosed multiple times before finally being taken seriously.

By the time she reached hospital, doctors told her that if she had waited just one more week, she might not have survived.

From missed symptoms to a devastating diagnosis of advanced serous ovarian cancer, and learning to live with a chronic, life‑limiting illness at just 25 - read Holly-Jayne's story in her own words.

Ovarian cancer symptoms that were dismissed

“I was diagnosed with stage 4 serous ovarian cancer on my mum’s birthday in March 2024. I was just 25 years old.

It all started back in November 2023, when both me and my mum became really unwell with what we thought was a vomiting bug. My mum recovered within about a week, but I just kept getting worse and worse.

I couldn’t eat or drink anything without throwing it all back up, and this went on for around three to four months straight. As a result, I lost a dangerously large amount of weight and was practically a skeleton at that point.

Alongside that, I had severe abdominal pain, extreme bloating, fatigue, constipation and shortness of breath.

After Christmas, I tried to book a GP appointment, but it kept getting cancelled. When we finally did see a GP, I was completely misdiagnosed and told it was acid reflux.

I had blood tests and went back again, but this time I was told it was probably just anxiety and that it was all in my head. They also checked my lungs for fluid but said everything sounded fine.”

Diagnosis – stage 4 serous ovarian cancer at 25

“A couple of weeks later my condition was still rapidly deteriorating. My parents knew that something definitely wasn't right - it couldn't just be anxiety or acid reflux.

I was supposed to have another doctor's appointment the next week, but my mum rang and demanded that we be seen immediately. My parents were genuinely scared that they were going to lose me if it was left any longer.

I'd pretty much lost most of my mobility at this point and could barely even walk up the stairs without my legs just completely giving way.

We went back to the doctors again (and saw a different doctor this time) where he told us to go to the hospital after realising that my heart rate was really high.

I ended up staying at the hospital for a whole week.

I had absolutely loads of different tests and scans and X-rays along with being on a drip. I also had a biopsy a couple of weeks later. Then about a month after I had the biopsy we were sent to Clatterbridge in Liverpool to meet with a consultant and it's there were we got the devastating news.”

Holly‑Jayne’s treatment journey with advanced ovarian cancer

“I was officially diagnosed with Stage 4 Serous Carcinoma Ovarian Cancer (which has spread to other parts of my body such as both of my ovaries, my womb, my stomach lining and everything it covers and a bit in my chest area), and I've also sadly completely lost my fertility because of it.

I was also told that if we had waited another week for that original appointment then I wouldn't be here right now and that I probably would have died in my sleep within a couple of days!

I think that was the biggest shock that we've ever had and devastated was definitely a huge understatement.

We do have some family history of cancer. I did genetic testing when I was first diagnosed, but they all came back negative, meaning that it's just a very unfortunate random occurrence.”

“My first course of chemotherapy was nine rounds. During my first round, my consultant delayed treatment to do an extra scan — which turned out to be life‑saving, as they discovered a large blood clot on my lung. I’ve been on blood thinners ever since.

During my second round of chemo, I had a severe reaction and actually stopped breathing for around a minute. It was absolutely terrifying and traumatic.

The remaining rounds were manageable, although the side effects were still horrendous — especially alongside autism and dyspraxia, which definitely made the whole experience even more challenging.

After my third round, I had a ‘halfway’ appointment where I was told my cancer was terminal and that I’d have to live with it for the rest of my life. That was incredibly devastating news — but I prefer to describe myself as chronic. I definitely don’t plan on dying anytime soon.”

Living with stage 4 ovarian cancer – current treatment and setbacks

“My cancer responded well to treatment initially. My tumour marker dropped from 1,400 to 200, my mobility returned, and my energy came back. I felt almost normal again — or as normal as I can be.

After chemotherapy, I went onto targeted treatment with bevacizumab every three weeks, alongside daily chemotherapy tablets. Both treatments continued together and finished in November 2025.

Unfortunately, a routine scan showed that the cancer had become active again and was growing in my stomach lining. I’m now back on chemotherapy — this time for six rounds.

I’ve already had two allergic reactions to this chemo. The most recent one included vomiting, hives, a rash, flushing, and uncontrollable shaking.

We still have setbacks — particularly when fluid builds up on my lungs again — but I’m doing my best to live life as fully and normally as possible.”

The future for Holly-Jayne – hope, bucket lists and rebuilding life

"I have a bucket list that I've been working on and have already had loads of amazing adventures including going to see my favourite group live in concert in London, going on holiday with my family, going on a boat ride, going for a tour of LFC stadium (my fave team!) and feeding penguins (my fave animal) and learning Ballet, having a prom photoshoot as I missed my own prom and soooo so much more!

Having all of these experiences and making memories with my loved ones mean the absolute world to me after everything that's happened and being so close to death.

But I fought with absolutely everything that I have and as hard as I can and I actually made it and I'm still here as happy and as healthy as ever (well as much as I can be with stage 4 cancer)."

"I went from basically dying and being bed-ridden and wheelchair bound, to being completely mobile and full of energy and walking over 20 miles through London just a few months later. I'm extremely grateful for my family and friends too and all the love and support that I've received since my diagnosis which has helped me immensely.

As well as the bucket list, I'm also now back in college re-doing my English and Maths GCSE's and I hope to eventually go to uni in the future.

I just can't wait to achieve even more goals and see what else my future holds.“

“It's seriously been one of the longest and hardest years of my life, but I'm absolutely determined not to let my illness define me and to continue to live my life to the absolute fullest for as long as I possibly can.

Cancer will NEVER be able to beat me as I will NEVER let it do so.

One of my biggest goals in life now is to raise awareness for ovarian cancer and especially for younger people like me, as this illness (especially my type) is extremely rare for us, and it can be incredibly lonely and isolating, so I want to show people what cancer is really like.

That’s why I’ve been sharing my journey publicly on Facebook since the very beginning — to show the raw, honest reality of living with cancer, not the over‑dramatised version you usually see in the media.

For example, I had and still have a lot of unexplained anger and I tend to lash out at people and there's been a lot of arguments as this has been just as stressful and draining on my parents as it has for me.

I want to let other people know that they are NOT alone on this journey, they WILL be okay and that it's not actually as scary as it always seems and most importantly, I want people to know that cancer and even the word terminal absolutely does NOT mean death.

You can still have a very long and fulfilling life living with both of these things.

If my story can even help just one person then that will be more than enough and a job well done for me!”

Ovarian cancer is often seen as a disease that only affects older women, but Holly‑Jayne’s story shows it can affect young people too. Persistent bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue and changes in appetite should never be ignored — even at 25.

Stories like Holly‑Jayne’s help others recognise the signs of ovarian cancer, understand what stage 4 or “terminal” ovarian cancer can really mean, and see that life does not stop at diagnosis.

At Ovarian Cancer Action, we fund the research that leads to earlier diagnosis, better treatments and longer survival — so fewer young women face advanced ovarian cancer, and more families have hope for the future.