Anne, 52 years

In September 2002, I was operated on for stage IIIc ovarian cancer, which was diagnosed as a ‘primary’ cancer. My gynaecological oncologist performed what he called a ‘major debulking’ but was unable to remove all the cancer cells. The surgery was followed up by six sessions of chemotherapy every three weeks, with Taxol and Carboplatin.

I didn't know the symptoms of ovarian cancer at the time, but in hindsight I did have just about all of them, though I could put them down to other ailments. I was beside myself because previously in 1992 and 1994, I had been diagnosed and treated for breast cancers (one in each breast). These too were ‘primary’ cancers and resulted in bilateral mastectomies. I just didn't believe it was happening again.

Luckily I have a very supportive husband, mother and a couple of very close friends whom I could talk to. So here I am now nearly five years down the track and both my gynaecological oncologist and my oncologist are very pleased with my progress. All of my doctors told me that ovarian cancer reacts very well to chemotherapy, but when you're looking at a third cancer (primaries at that) in the space of 10 years it is very hard to believe that you will come out the other end. But I did, and I feel very lucky to be here. It sounds so easy doesn't it?I did have a few difficulties along the way. I developed a pleural effusion in my right lung when my port-a-cath was inserted and I ended up in hospital for three weeks with a massive infection requiring surgery.

I'm sure that most ladies who have been through the chemo know that it's not the most pleasant thing to have and I had days where I told my husband that I couldn't do it any more, but then started to feel a little better and went back for the next treatment.I would have liked to have been able to talk to someone who had been through the surgery and chemotherapy for ovarian cancer and had an idea of how I felt at the time.

I don't think anyone can honestly say to another that "they know exactly how you feel", (which was said to me numerous times), because everyone reacts differently. But I believe if you have been in the same type of situation you have an insight that no one else could have.I speak about both the breast cancers and the ovarian cancers to people because it makes them more aware. At the time of my diagnosis with the breast cancers none of my female friends were doing their breast checks. After I was diagnosed with the ovarian cancer none of them knew about the symptoms...they do now!

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