We speak to 5 ovarian cancer survivors who share their inspirational stories and tell us how they got #OvarIt

ELEVEN British women die of ovarian cancer every day - and it is time to step up and do something about it. We have teamed up with Target Ovarian Cancer to launch the Fabulous #OvarIt campaign.

Unlike cervical and breast cancer, we know very little about the disease and women are dying as a result.

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The charity's chief executive Annwen Jones says: "We need to educate GPs. Most women go to their GP three times before being correctly referred to ovarian cancer tests.

This must change." Here, five survivors tell Lynsey Hope their stories.

Correct diagnosis

'I'm lucky it was found early'

CHAY NAIK is a 26-year-old trainee solicitor, from Farringdon, central London.

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She says: "I was 17 and studying for A-levels when I noticed my stomach getting big. I thought it was because I wasn’t exercising enough, but then my stomach started to feel hard.

People said I looked six months pregnant. I initially thought it was IBS but I began to worry when I couldn’t lie on my front without it hurting. I should have gone to the doctors straight away, but I didn’t. When I finally booked an appointment, tests revealed I had a large cyst, which had to be removed.

After surgery, the doctor said the cyst was so large it had encompassed my left ovary. They’d had to remove my ovary with the cyst and inside they found a stage one tumour.

I was lucky, as I had excellent ­treatment. Hearing the diagnosis was a shock. Getting ovarian cancer was not something I expected at my age.I have no family history of cancer, so it just didn’t make sense.

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After the operation, the doctor also said I had endometriosis, which explained why I had experienced painful periods as a child.Of course, I had big concerns about fertility as I was only 17.

I still have one ovary so I have a chance of having children naturally, but I will consider freezing eggs in the future. Overall, I feel very fortunate the cancer was caught early.

It was stage one and chemotherapy was unnecessary. I still have regular checks to make sure cysts have not formed.If the tumour had not been discovered when it was, my story could have been quite different."

Misdiagnosis: IBS

'My options are now limited'

JULIE SCATES, 44, lives in Belfast with her golf pro partner Steve Ritchie, 40. She has three children aged 25, 20 and 14.

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Julie's cancer has tragically spread to her liver, bowel and diaphragmShe says: "I’d been bloated and constipated and in November 2013 the doctor said it was irritable bowel syndrome. I was due to have a hysterectomy for other gynaecological problems in January 2014, and at my pre-op, the doctor said it didn’t sound like IBS.

A scan revealed an ovarian cyst which they thought had burst. I had the hysterectomy as planned but the pain kept getting worse.In March 2014 tests revealed primary peritoneal cancer. It was advanced, aggressive and stage four.

I had surgery within days but they found it    had spread to my liver, bowel, diaphragm and the lining that covers the organs, meaning they could not proceed.

I was offered palliative-care chemo as there was nothing they could do. We researched and found a clinical trial at the Christie hospital in Manchester which meant weekly chemo.

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I had a fantastic response and in just eight weeks I was ready for surgery. After, there was no evidence of disease. But the cancer has returned twice and my final round of chemo ended in November last year.

I’m now on a life- prolonging drug but my options are limited. In all I was probably misdiag-nosed ten times. Opportunities were missed. But I’m determined to live my life, not just exist with cancer.

Misdiagnosis: Pregnancy complication

'Looked 6-months pregnant'

ACCOUNT manager Jules Gardner, 41, lives near Northampton with husband Jamie, 42, a tanker driver, and son Freddie, three.

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Jules had 75 lymphnodes removedShe says: "During my 12-week scan with my son, they found a cyst on my ovary. By 30 weeks, I was measuring large and referred to an obstetrician, who let a student examine me.

He assumed Freddie’s bottom was wedged in the birthing canal and booked me in for a C-section at 39 weeks. But a scan at 38 weeks showed Freddie had turned and I was able to have a natural birth.

A few friends had babies around the same time as me and were back in their jeans while I still looked six months’ pregnant. I spoke to a doctor, who booked an ultrasound. I was due to go on holiday to Cornwall but saw a consultant the day before we left. He said that because I was only 37, it was unlikely to be cancer.

So we went on holiday.The pain was unimaginable and we came home early. I had a cyst the size of a baby’s head growing inside me.

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It was removed in June 2014 and a week after the surgery I was told the biopsy revealed “worrying” results. I had stage-one ovarian cancer and needed a hysterectomy.

In July 2014, they removed 75 lymph nodes, my appendix and all of my reproductive organs. A week later, I got a call to say the operation was a success and my cancer hadn’t spread.

I had six sessions of chemo and am in remission. I feel sad I went through this in the first year of Freddie’s life – I should have been enjoying life as a new mum.

But actually it was Freddie who got me through this."

Misdiagnosis: IBS

'Now it's a waiting game'

CAROL BAREHAM, 45, a science technician, lives in Larne, Co Antrim, with husband Neil, 53, an environmental ­manager, and children Thea, 15, and Elliot, 13.

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She says: "In July 2015, on a holiday in Egypt, my tummy was looking bloated but my family all got tummy bugs.

At home, the GP told me I had IBS but when I continued losing weight I booked a second appointment and was referred for an ultrasound.

That highlighted something on my left ovary so I had a blood test and a CT scan, which revealed I had stage three ovarian cancer. I started chemo that October.

Waiting for treatment was horrendous.

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I kept thinking it was spreading like wildfire.I had four sessions to shrink the tumours before having surgery to remove them in January 2016. I had a full hysterectomy, which was a success.

Ten months later, small spots of cancer had returned. I had another six rounds of chemo, which finished in October 2017. Now it’s a waiting game again.
There needs to be more awareness. I didn’t know the symptoms and thought I was too young. People think it’s an old lady’s disease. It’s not."

Misdiagnosis: Appendicitis

'Not on my radar at 27'

EMILY DEARMAN, 31, a marketing manager, lives in Enfield, North London, with husband Matt, 32, who works in logistics for a bank.

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She says: "I started suffering severe stomach pains and bloating. It came on very suddenly and was incredibly painful. I went to see my GP in April 2013 and she referred me to A&E as she thought it was appendicitis.

I had some scans and blood tests and had to go straight to theatre for ­surgery. But when they operated, they could see I had a large cancerous tumour on my left ovary.

I guess I was lucky because even though my diagnosis was wrong, I was referred quickly to hospital so her prompt action may have saved my life.

I was shocked, I was only 27 and ovarian cancer wasn’t on my radar.

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I had a second operation in June 2013 and they managed to remove the tumour and my left ovary with keyhole surgery.

It was a long and arduous process and I found it hard to cope emotionally.

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I felt like I was just waiting for it to return. I learnt some cognitive behavioural therapy to manage the uncertainty.

I had also been very worried about my fertility. But fortunately, although I lost an ovary, I didn’t need chemo and now I’m four months pregnant and super-excited to be having a baby in the summer.

I have regular checks but I am hoping I can finally put this ­cancer battle behind me and move on with my life."