Your stories
Everyone's experience of ovarian cancer is different, and people find many different ways to cope. Find out how other women have learned to live with ovarian cancer.
Dawn Melrose: screening and prevention
'My mother died in July 1988 after 12 months of surgery and chemotherapy, during which time she fought bravely but was unable to win the battle. It took her GP almost a year to send her to a consultant, by which time it was too late as the cancer was at a very advanced stage.
'I have since learnt so much more about the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, and only wish that I had as much knowledge then as I do now. It is interesting to note that at the time I was assured that there was no "hereditary risk" involved with this disease despite the fact that my grandmother, my great aunt and my mother had all died from ovarian cancer. I now know better, and have been determined to make sure that I give my daughter and myself the best possible chances.
'Luckily I have a very supportive and understanding GP and a local consultant who is involved in screening and detection and have eventually been accepted on to UKFOCSS (UK Familial Ovarian Cancer Screening Study), which gives me regular ultrasound scans, CA125 tests as well as breast cancer screening.
'I have met some wonderful people during this time who are committed to ensuring that women with family history are given all the support they need. My biggest hope is that opportunities will be given to all women, so that there are no more needless deaths through excuses, ignorance and mis-diagnosis.I would recommend anyone who has a family history to go to their GP and ask for screening.'
Aileen Whittaker: a message of hope
'7 February 2004 found me standing in a restaurant in town, knife in hand - time for a speech. "We're expecting a 20-minute speech", my cousin John goaded me. "The Minister doesn't even speak for that long," I retorted. Then I started to speak. "I was born within one mile of here into a loving caring extended family with which I am sharing this special evening."
'I stopped for a moment thinking of the poem my granddad wrote for me just after I was born during the Second World War. I glanced at my cake, iced in four sections; the top left that I was cutting into was for my family and friends. My brother had travelled from Scotland and others from Lancashire and the Lake District.
'Then my mind flashed back to how fortunate I was to be celebrating my 60th birthday at all after contracting ovarian cancer in 1999. After a hysterectomy and being placed on a clinical trial and successful treatment with docetaxel and Carboplatin I returned to work over three years ago. Two years to get rid of all the aching pains around my stomach and longer to get rid of the pains in my hands. The check-ups created anxiety in themselves and then followed a period of great relief. Not so many sore throats now, my immune system cannot be that bad and my eyes do not water so much.
'My work colleagues have been a tower of strength to me. The day before my birthday the staff had decorated the building and given me a beautiful basket of flowers. The clerk had asked the manager if it was my last day. "Not that I am aware of," he answered and shot out of his office to see if he had got it right! As I was preparing for a local history class a red-faced boss remarked that he thought I was only 58. "What? With hair like mine?" I said. Since it has grown back it is almost completely white and much finer. I have had to get used to a new Aileen in the mirror, but just the same inside.
'I intend to carry on working at the moment as my job as deputy manager for a centre for the physically disabled is interesting. It is humbling to care for clients who are younger than yourself. A section of my birthday cake represented my working life, my love of books and sewing. This section was to be shared with clients and staff.
'Another section of my cake was to be shared between my church friends and was cut on the following Sunday morning. My minister shared the precious words written by my grandfather.
'I had planned this event for quite a while and asked for donations to go to Ovacome and Macmillan nurses. I was overwhelmed with all the photos that a childhood friend arranged after my husband had found them in the loft.
'I was surrounded by all the people who helped me get well. Sharing gives me the most pleasure in life so I had made my birthday cake to share with everyone. As I sat between my husband Frank and son Simeon I glanced at the fourth quarter of the cake that I was planning to share with my daughter and son-in-law. They had been unable to travel as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child - our first grandchild - but that will be another story.
'I have written this article in the hope that it will encourage ladies who are struggling to get well again.'
