Colleen, 51 years

In June 2007, at the age of 50, I awoke one morning and felt that my tummy was ‘poking up’ as if I were pregnant. The following morning it was still there. I was feeling fine but thought it was a little strange - my husband told me to go to the doctor.

I wanted to put off the doctor's visit as I felt well, but my husband insisted. The doctor felt that there was a large mass (like an eight month foetus) that shouldn't be there and sent me for a blood test (CA125) which was negative and an ultrasound.

Then I had a visit to my wonderful gynaecologist who doesn't mince words, thank heavens, and he told us it was most likely ovarian cancer. This was followed by a visit to the gynaecological oncologist who scheduled me for surgery.

The surgery showed that it was a Grade III clear-cell ovarian cancer that was luckily, despite its size, only in Stage 1. I had three rounds of chemotherapy after surgery because the tumour sac had ruptured on removal, spilling its contents into my abdomen, because it had attached itself to the pelvic wall, because it was Grade III and because it was a clear-cell carcinoma.

Throughout the surgery, treatment and recovery period, my four gorgeous daughters (16 year old twins, a 20 year old and a 26 year old), were fantastic, cooking for the family, seeing to my every need and keeping me company. My wonderful husband was by my side all the way. He saw to all the other household chores and held my hand through chemo treatments - he was the rock we all leaned on.

I did my crying in the shower, where no one could see, hear or notice. When my hair started to fall out I took a small bottle of champagne and my favourite crystal glass to the hairdressers and asked for a "number 2" cut, so the hair that fell out after that didn't look like it was my hair - it was too short.

I am a lucky girl - the outlook is excellent. I went to the doctors even though I felt well. Ovarian cancer is a silent, sneaky cancer. You have to listen to your body.

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