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Feb 21

‘My doctor told me I needed to lose weight. 10 months later, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer’ – 9Honey

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Clare, a compliance manager for a financial group, was fatigued, run down, fighting off a cough and bloated when she went to the doctor desperate for relief. First, she was told to lose weight. Then she was handed a pamphlet on viruses and told to get some rest.

It wasn't until 10 months later that Clare was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer and told she may have just 12 months to live. Desperate to spread awareness among young women, students studying medicine and the wider public, the 51-year-old Western Australian woman is sharing her experience.

This is Clare's story in her own words.

***

I'm generally a workaholic, and I always have been, but four years ago something changed. I had terrible fatigue, I was run down, had a cough, bloating and really painful periods.

I went to my GP and he basically noted there was a lot of swelling in my abdomen. He suggested I lose weight. He wasn't interested in the other symptoms. He just focused on that one area, and said, "You'll feel better if you lose weight."

A month later, my cough and the fatigue were getting worse, so I went back twice. On the third occasion, I asked him if he could conduct a blood test. He said no, told me I had a virus and that a virus can take a long time to clear.

His words were, "You just need to be patient." He gave me a print-out from his computer that said, "You have a virus: take lots of fluids, get lots of rest, keep warm, take Panadol and Nurofen if needed, a cough suppressant and a small spoonful of honey."

I was at the point where I thought, 'He thinks I'm a hypochondriac, so maybe I am.' But the pain was getting worse, and a few months later I thought a female GP might be more understanding, so I went to one in the same practice.

This was the first time the focus wasn't on my weight; she sent me for an ultrasound, which suggested there could be an ovarian cyst. She asked me to come back in six to 10 weeks' time to check to see the cyst had dispersed, but during that period, I had to go back home to Scotland because my dad was dying of cancer.

While I was in Scotland, I was looking as if I were nine months pregnant. I had a terrible cough, indigestion and was urinating all the time.

When I got back to Australia, my friend who's a doctor (radiologist) looked at the size of my bump and scanned me. She found tumours in my chest, near my heart, in my abdomen, liver, stomach, omentum, pelvis and ovary. I was riddled with tumours.

I was so frustrated, remembering being in my former GP's office crying twice telling him I wasn't there about my weight.

After that, everything happened so quickly my feet didn't touch the ground. I don't remember much at that point because I was a bit spaced out, but I went to my GP, she sat me down, gave me the facts and said, "Look, we're dealing with ovarian cancer. It's stage four. You may have less than 12 months to live, and I suggest you get your affairs in order."

Being told you have less than 12 months to live is I don't have words for it.

I immediately thought, 'I have two options: I can lay down, be upset and think Why me? or I can live this 12 months and have a bloody good time'. I made that decision right away. I quit my job, and I was going to enjoy my 12 months.

For my husband of 17 years, however, it was very different. He fell apart. I wasn't just dealing with cancer I was looking after my husband, too, who was an emotional wreck.

Treatment was tough. My female GP was most professional and brilliant. She arranged for me to go see a wonderful gynaecology oncology surgeon and an equally wonderful medical oncologist.

I was given three months of chemotherapy, surgery a hysterectomy, and lots of other bits and pieces got taken away and another three months of chemo, followed by three and a half years on a maintenance chemo.

The maintenance chemo kept me well, and on that 12-month date we had a wonderful celebration. By that point I was feeling good, and I thought, 'I'm going to double it. I'm going to get to two years'. And when I got to two years, I thought, 'Oh my God. I want to live to 50.' That was my goal.

I turned 50 last year, and it was amazing.

People think I'm brave. I'm not brave. It is tough. People don't see what I'm going through. Mentally it is a constant stream, a constant thought. Every Christmas I think, 'This is my last Christmas.' Every birthday, I think, 'This is my last birthday.'

The hardest part came last November when I had the recurrence the cancer had come back.

Having initially being told I had only 12 months to live, I made sure I enjoyed every day. I made my life fantastic. I loved life. In fact, life was even better than it was pre-cancer because I was enjoying it. I was enjoying special times more while still having chemo every three weeks.

When I had the recurrence diagnosed, I was having so much fun in life that I was so upset it had returned. This time I think I felt worse. The cancer was maintained for nearly four years, which was fantastic I didn't expect it.

But the second time, it's harder because you know more. You've educated yourself; you know what the next stage is, you know you'll get more chemotherapy, and you'll do it all again but the maintenance period is likely to be shorter.

I've not started chemotherapy this time because I'm waiting to go on a clinical trial. It's been three months since my recurrence was diagnosed and I'm still waiting to find out if I'll be accepted for this trial, which will involve me taking two drugs together for two years. The waiting is the most difficult time emotionally.

If I don't get accepted, I'll go back on one of the chemotherapies.

I want women to not wait. For me, it was 10 months in total for my diagnosis. I just wish I had known the symptoms of ovarian cancer, because I had them all. I wish my initial GP had known the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

We know our bodies, and I'm so grateful for my lovely female GP, who did eventually get me scanned when I told her how I was feeling.

Please never leave your GP thinking you're a hypochondriac. If your GP isn't listening to you, go to the next GP.

I wish I had earlier.

On average women can wait 32 weeks for an ovarian cancer diagnosis, and 47 per cent of women diagnosed reportedly make two or more visits to their GP presenting symptoms before being referred to a specialist.

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. In 2020, more than 1,500 Australian women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 1,000 will die- that's four women diagnosed and three women dying of ovarian cancer every day. To learn more about ovarian cancer and to make a live-saving donation visit: ovariancancer.net.au

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'My doctor told me I needed to lose weight. 10 months later, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer' - 9Honey

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