💜 ✨ GREAT NORTH RUN - SUNDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2024 - Target Ovarian Cancer ✨ 💜

Research by Cancer Research 2017-2019 has demonstrated that there are around 7,500 new cases of ovarian cancer in the UK every year, 21 diagnoses per day. Between 2015 and 2019, 1.4% of new ovarian cancer cases were in people aged 20 and under, and 4.4% were in people aged 20–34. Ovarian cancer is extremely rare in young people, but it does not discriminate and women of any age can be affected, regardless of living the healthiest lifestyle 💔

In 2014, my older sister, Emma, had emergency surgery to remove a large ovarian cyst. After the operation, we were given the news that the cyst contained cancerous cells and was a rare strain of ovarian cancer. Emma at the time was only 21, so fit and healthy with her whole life ahead of her. Our whole family were in complete disbelief.

Em later had surgery to remover her right ovary and fallopian tube, and biopsies were taken to check for cancer cells in her lymph nodes. After numerous tests and another operation, we finally received the news that there were no further cancer cells and the only requirement going forward now was for regular checkups and hospital screening just as a precaution.

The following 4 and a half years, Em had regular check ups with the gynaecology team. None of us ever really considered the appointment to be anything sinister and never did we ever contemplate how the cancer could return, especially after recovering so well so quickly and being provided with such reassurance that the chance of recurrence was so small, especially of somebody so fit and healthy her age too.

Em was always complete fitness fanatic. Whether that was through daily gym sessions, going for a run, yoga, pilates, a long walk, going swimming or to zumba.. you name it.. she lived and breathed to stay active and healthy, always setting goals and challenging herself ❤️ (with a few doughnuts 🍩 and Chinese takeaways here and there of course 😉).

On 9th September 2018, Em completed the Great North Run for “Yorkshire Cancer Research”. I’ve honestly never been SO proud of her. She truly always challenged herself to always be the best version of herself. This was a massive personal achievement for her that she trained so hard for. The next day after, Em was of course back at Zumba and going straight back into running… (but for everyone that knows Em, you wouldn’t expect anything less). Em has always been the most fittest in our family and we would often have “Fitbit challenges” running to see who can clock up the most steps. Em obviously was always ahead of me... It really is a running joke that Em never has a day off. She really doesn’t!!!! This is one of the million reasons that I admire her so much. She was always SO passionate about life. Making the most of every opportunity. Pushing herself and never stopping. 🥰

Shortly after the half marathon, Em started with muscle pain which she initially put down to fitness training, and with the non-stop exercise her life always revolved around. We just thought she had overdone something and needed to rest up. There were days it seemed better and even going to the doctors and to a sports therapist, we were reassured it was nothing more than 'fitness-related injury'.

On Em’s last gynaecology checkup (the 5th year mark, where they were then happy to discharge Em back to our GP). Blood tests confirmed at the end of February 2019 that the cancer Em had back in 2014, had returned. Our whole world turned upside down. Em never let her diagnosis define her and every single day she had a smile on her face. She is our ray of sunshine. Only 6 months later, on August 26th, 2019, Em peacefully fell asleep surrounded by our family. I made a promise to her that I would challenge myself and live life to the fullest - just like her. On the days that I struggle the most I need to remember that everything is for us both.

I ‘officially’ took up running in January 2020. After months of not doing any exercise and feeling completely lost, I knew I needed to focus my energy into something positive. For years I’ve wanted to give running a go, especially after seeing how much Em enjoyed it. She would often even go out twice a day, before work and once she got home, just because she loved it that much. Not only did it challenge herself but it was a great head clearer. I can also vouch for that that now too. I felt guilty for months that I was fortunate to be able to exercise and felt that it was something I shouldn’t do, because I knew Em couldn’t.

Running is something that really hasn’t come naturally. In the past, I tried to join Em on her runs and within minutes I would’ve had a stitch, felt faint & just being genuinely adamant that I couldn’t do it.. and wondered how anybody did it, yet alone for fun. Em keeps me going on every single run. Since I started this running journey, I have gone out at least 3 times a week pretty much every week - in all weathers, including in the horrendous rain, snow, sunshine and blistering heatwaves when it’s been so hot caked in suncream. All the lovely weather changes we’ve had, I’ve never stopped going.

I’ve forever admired Em’s ability to run… and she told me it wouldn’t come easy but with patience it does come. Without any doubt I wouldn’t be here today without Em’s passion pushing me and I’ve never felt closer to her than when I am out running ❤️

Running has pushed me so much mentally and physically. I’m so glad I haven’t given up and more than ever I am beyond grateful for achieving what I thought would genuinely be impossible.

I'm grateful for having the capability and choice to exercise. This is something that I will never EVER take for granted again. A true blessing that we do not truly realise how precious this is until we are not able to do it 💔 Putting everything into perspective, we do not realise how lucky we are - to be well enough to enjoy the fresh outdoors and chuck on a pair of running shoes... regardless of how fast you are, or how far you can go. Being able to simply go out is always the main thing and something we should be very thankful for.

💜 Support SAVES lives 💜

I’m running the Great North Run for the 4th year for ‘Target Ovarian Cancer', a charity Em was so passionate about and also wanted to raise money for when she did the GNR. Target Ovarian is the only ovarian cancer charity that works across all 4 nations of the UK. They work with women, family members & healthcare professionals to ensure that they target the areas that matter the most for those living with ovarian cancer.

Every woman who is diagnosed with ovarian cancer should receive the right support. The demand for a nurse lead support line is increasing every year, demonstrating the need for specialist nurses’ insight and experience.

Target ovarian aims to improve earlier diagnosis, fund life-saving research, and provide much-needed support to women with ovarian cancer.

🔬 Why is it so important to improve early diagnosis?

If diagnosed at the earliest stage, 9 in 10 women will survive. But currently, 2/3 of women are diagnosed late, when the cancer is harder to treat due to advanced disease.

Women must feel empowered to go to the GP as soon as they notice something is wrong, so they must know the symptoms to look out for. As well as campaigning for national awareness, Target Ovarian works to get awareness materials out into local communities, schools, GP practices, and pharmacies.

While ovarian cancer commonly occurs in post-menopausal women, anyone can be at risk. Em was only 20 when she received her initial diagnosis. This has being a huge heartbreaking reality check that this really really really CAN affect anyone and we must not ignore anything that doesn’t feel quite right. Even if means going back and forth until there is progress with investigation.

A common misconception is that a smear test is a screening tool for all gynecological cancers. However, at present, the only way to diagnose ovarian cancer is after a blood test (CA125) which is ONLY offered if symptoms persist, alongside potentially an ultrasound. There is currently NO national screening programme for this type of cancer in the UK.

It is essential that GPs are trained to spot ovarian cancer symptoms at the earliest opportunity, and can either diagnose or rule it out quickly. Target Ovarian has presented at GP training days, gave out GP toolkits, and offered an online training module for GPs to update their knowledge on early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

What are the symptoms?

❗️Persistent bloating – not bloating that comes and goes

❗️Feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite

❗️Pelvic or abdominal pain

❗️Urinary symptoms (needing to wee more urgently or more often than usual)

Occasionally there can be other symptoms such as;

Changes in bowel habits, extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss.

Symptoms will be:

Frequent – more than 12 times a month

Persistent – they don't go away

New – they're not normal for you.

💜 £7 could enable a GP to update their knowledge of ovarian cancer and best practice for early diagnosis.

💜 £17 can fund the support line for one hour, which can help one more person who needs advice and information they can trust.

💜 £50 funds awareness and could help 50 people to learn about ovarian cancer symptoms through receiving a symptoms leaflet. Awareness of symptoms and when to visit the GP can hugely improve early diagnosis.

💜 £250 could fund a day of lifesaving research. Target Ovarian are working to improve ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment for women now and in the future.

Nothing makes me prouder and luckier than to say I have you as my big sis, Emz. You are my sunshine every single day and push me to believe in myself and to achieve the things I never thought I would be able to. My sister is my biggest inspiration every single day. I have never ever met anybody as incredible, courageous and brave as you.

Thank you to everyone who has supported my running journey so far over the last few years and encouraged me not to give up. You have helped me more than you’ll ever know.

Any donations and support will mean the absolute world for this incredible charity and in Em’s name. Nobody should go through what Em experienced.

FOR MY BEAUTIFUL EM!

I know you'll be with me every step of the way 🏃🏼‍♀️

I run for you

💕