5th year justgiving 2024

Story

It’s my birthday this week and 5 years since I was diagnosed with Low Grade Serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC). I’m extremely grateful to be here still. I really wasn't expecting to be and neither was my oncologist although he didn't actually say those words.

I’m celebrating again by fundraising for Professor Gourley’s research into LGSOC. We’ve been invited to see the research in Edinburgh so am looking forward to trying to understand it.

This research will make a huge difference to our outcomes. It doesn’t attract any cancer charity funding so we have to keep our hope going by fundraising ourselves which year after year gets harder due to the cost of living crisis.

I’m now on 6 monthly oncology reviews but am feeling better than I have due to the excellent physios and the NHS funded gym rehab classes.

Lilly our rescue dog also helps keep me mobile and even though she’s got no recall skills she’s adorable and a lot of fun

The survival rate for ovarian cancer generally is still much lower than the more common other cancers as it’s still being diagnosed late as it isn’t yet high on GP’s radar. It is confused with IBS or urinary tract infections. There is still NO Screening available for it. 

Since my diagnosis I’ve raised over £5,000 by raffling  a painting each March for Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. This is for Professor Gourley directly.

This March it’s a diptych painting of the Old Town Gardens in the autumn light where we walk Lilly very frequently ( close by to the fantastic cafe that sells the best coffee in Swindon). I hope you like it.

It’s two small square canvases and is very light making posting anywhere in the world easier and you’ll be able to find room on your wall or shelf as it’s also free standing. One can be displayed on top of the other- which how I designed it but it is entirely up to you (obvs).

Tickets are £5 each - if you donate anonymously or I don’t have your contact details please don't forget to email me on

alex@alexcoppock-bunce.com

to let me know you’ve donated and how many tickets you’d like.  Otherwise I can’t tell you if you win! 

The draw will be on 31st  March- Easter Day . 

I’m hoping to raise  £1,000 for the Prof. I hit it last year due to an anonymous but very generous donor . Thank you so much if you see this!

I recognise people are even more strapped for cash this year so I’m keeping the target the same rather than revert to my previous one.

Please help me to raise funds so we can have treatments that actually work rather than keep suffering from side effects from treatments that are ineffective and help me to help the Prof find a cure for us as soon as possible.

We have lost even more good friends over the last few years due to this horrible disease. New treatments are on the horizon but every penny will make a difference in getting them to patients.

I  also want to make sure you know that if you have a change in bowel habit, frequent need to pee, back pain, feel bloated, have abdominal pain or feel full very quickly when you eat, make sure you see  a doctor and ask for ovarian cancer to be ruled out with a CA125 blood test and a transvaginal ultrasound.  And tell other women! Poo and Bowel Cancer is talked about openly due to Dame Deborah James but Ovarian Cancer is still not really in people's awareness- and most people think a smear test will find it. It won't, we need a screening programme that works.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Low grade serous ovarian cancer is a rare and under-researched disease. It affects young women and is resistant to standard treatment. At the Nicola Murray Centre, based at the University of Edinburgh, we are screening panels of new drugs in the laboratory in order to identify those most likely to be beneficial in the clinic.