Katy’s Journey
I was diagnosed with stage one ovarian cancer in January 2021. I was 46 years of age.
I initially went into hospital at the beginning of December 2020 with appendicitis, but a CT scan showed up a fibroid, cyst and cell changes in my ovary and fallopian tube. My test results came back in January along with my diagnosis. To say it was somewhat of a shock is an understatement. But I’m one of the lucky ones. Because of the appendicitis the doctors were able to catch it early.
However, because of the Covid-19 restrictions treatment hasn’t been easy. Fortunately, I have private health care so I was able to explore the other options that were available. I had my operation on 28 January 2021 and started my chemo around three weeks later. I was given the all-clear in June of that year and had a fantastic 12 months working again and thoroughly enjoying life.
Sadly, my cancer returned in September 2022 having spread to my abdominal cavity. My cancer is now incurable, but I had an operation to remove it from my abdomen in October 2022, then another six doses of chemo which finished March 2023. I am now on the maintenance drug Niraparib, which helps destroy cancer cell growth. I was originally at the Nuffield in Cambridge but felt that as my cancer is now incurable, I wanted to be treated at The Royal Marsden, as they are at the cutting edge of research and treatment.
My surgeon is Mr John Butler and my oncologist Professor Banerjee – both of whom are amazing and so positive and professional – I really feel that they are fighting to keep me alive. I visit the Marsden in Cavendish Square every month to have my bloods checked and had my most recent scan on 4 January this year, which always makes me very nervous, but I am in the best possible hands.
I am married to Patrick who is an architect and mother to two teenagers Jack who is 18 and Tilly who is 15 – it has hit them all hard and how we all deal with it ebbs and flows but communication is the key – not that teenagers are that keen on talking a lot of the time. We are linked into St Nicholas Hospice and have and are all having therapy there which has proved very helpful. Although I am the one with cancer, it effects the whole family individually and it is so important that we all have our own space to off load.
I am passionate about spreading the message about ovarian cancer symptoms as I had no idea what they were, despite coming from a medical family. I visited the GP six months before my diagnosis with a number of symptoms including going to the toilet very often, bloating quickly after eating, abdominal pain and was told I was peri-menopausal, which is very much the default answer for any woman over 40.
I have also been involved with Target Ovarian Cancer and held an auction/dinner fundraiser in October 2021, which was a great success.