- There are around 7,400 new ovarian cancer cases in the UK every year, that's 20 every day.
- 1 in 50 UK females will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in their lifetime.
In 2018 I became one of those statistics. Following major surgery in August to remove a ‘mass’ in my abdomen, it was later discovered that the tumour was cancerous. Ovarian cancer diagnosed and treated at Stage 1 means women have 90%+ chance of surviving 5 years. My cancer was at stage 1c, but unfortunately ruptured during surgery, decreasing my 5 year survival rate from 90%+ to less than 50%. Despite the rupture I was one of the ‘lucky ones’ - one more surgery later and biopsies did not detect any further signs of cancer. Had I been detected even earlier, the need for open surgery and the loss of an ovary may not have been the case either. Unfortunately more than 60% of cases do not get diagnosed until stage 3 or 4 - often meaning that those women face a terminal diagnosis.
- Five-year relative survival for ovarian cancer in women is below the European average in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Target Ovarian Cancer are working all across the UK to increase awareness and improve systems for the early detection of Cancer. I was 29, in good health, I ate well and exercised often. I did not abuse my body with an excess of alcohol, drugs, sunbeds, sugar, caffeine or anything else that people want to pin Cancer on. It just simply doesn’t discriminate.
The Great Run in Manchester on 19th May is holding a half marathon event. The furthest I have ever ran in my life is 6 miles so this is going to be a big challenge for me as I try to regain my overall fitness and strength following surgeries!
Please please dig deep and donate whatever you can for a charity that is close to my heart and will be at the forefront of my mind in some capacity forever more. Help me save more lives just as the hard work of charities, scientists and our wonderful NHS saved mine.
Nic x
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
