Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer September 2016 at age 28. It was picked up after a collapse without which it may have gone unnoticed. I am a junior doctor, an elite athlete and take pride in my health so a massive life shock. To be told prognosis may not be good, you may need a hysterectomy, your career in the Army/as a professional cyclist may be over and you need major open surgery, well the cliche it will never happen to you came to mind. All of a sudden life wasn't a guarantee and I was forced to think about mortality before I had even got to the second chapter of my adult life.
Lucky for me my after my surgery and removal of a 1.3kg tumour, I was given the all clear. But a year down the line and I may not have been so fortunate and even with chemotherapy some tumours are resistant. Not everybody gets my fairytale ending. In fact only 1 in 3 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer make it to 5 years after diagnosis.
Unlike cervical cancer there is no screening programme for ovarian cancer so young women aren't being picked up until its too late. If we can catch it in the early stages surgery can be curative. There are studies in progress to look at the most effective way to do this whether it be regular ultrasound scans which takes 5 minutes, or some simple blood tests. Simple but life saving and in my case also fertility preserving.
I am so grateful for the support Grace gave me, they do so much for women with ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancer. Every year 10,000 women in UK die from Gynaecological cancers. I would never wish any women to have to go through what I have been through, and in fact a close friend of mine is still fighting her battle so please help Grace continue the good work so these types of cases become a thing of the past.
Love Ejay