ovarian cacner.

Hello everyone,

My name is Rebecca, I'm currently studying for my master of research degree and my research is in ovarian cancer.

when I was 8, my grandmother that had brought me up and had been the mother figure in my life passed away 3 days after her 55th birthday. By the time she was diagnosed they gave her three weeks to live and doctors were unsure where the primary cancer has started but thought is might be either the breast or ovary. Since then my life has never been the same, and it has become my ambition in life to try and help women and their families, and hopefully find the cause and cure for ovarian cancer.

So for my project I am looking at the expression of different genes and their role in the different types of ovarian cancer, and if the genes of interest I am looking at could be used as biomarkers for early detection.

So as you can guess I have a lot of questions, (I'm also curious by nature), and yes I could go and look through the text books and journals for the answers. But who better to ask than individuals who have experienced it for themselves, who really know what its like to be effected by ovarian cancer.

fell free to answer it would be so helpful to hear your own experience of having ovarian cancer or your experience of a family member having ovarian cancer.......and I hope you don't feel like I'm praying into your lives and I hope you don't get offended, I don't mean to in any way.

So my questions:

1) Did you have any symptoms before diagnosis and at what stage was you diagnosed and how old?

2)how did you feel physically before your diagnosis on a scale of one to ten: one being I feel totally fine and 10 I feel incredibly ill I think I could be dying.

3) How did you feel after receiving your diagnosis?

4) Do you have any children and if so how many?

5) had you started the menopause when you were diagnosed?

6)what was your health style like before diagnosis as in exercise and diet?

7) do you have a theory on why you developed ovarian cancer?

8) which county do you live in?

9)what was your primary cancer?

I know that these may seen like strange questions, but I have so many thought in my head like could this be the cause, could this, but have nobody to ask the research papers out there will only answer my questions so far. I need you to answer the rest.

when I have finished my research and have written my thesis I want the reader to understand the research I carried out but also why! I want the reader to understand a little bit of what it is like for the individual affected by ovarian cancer.

So thank you everyone in advance, I really hope you don't mind me asking these questions

[Marcelina]

Hi Rebecca

1..I was diagnosed at 69 with stage 3b and only symptoms was bloating.

2. Before diagnosis I felt 4-5 at times with upset stomach which was IBS according to GP.

3. Numb and devastated as my sister died from Ovarian at age 57

4. I have 3 children

5. At age 42 I had partial hysterectomy, my ovaries were not removed (big mistake I think now.

6. Diet would have been 80% good and loved walking usually 4 miles and up to 10-15 on some weekends.

7.Thought I may had been genetic as of my sisters death and had BRCA1 and 2 test which was negative.

8. Ireland

9. Ovarian but had spread to Bowel.

Hope this helps .

[Hidden in reply to Marcelina]

Thank you for your answers, they are really helpful. I hope you are well.

Bex xx

[Hidden]

hi Rebecca, I suggest you use Survey Monkey to do your research through facebook or through this site if this is allowed by admin. This way, everyone feels more secure as the information given is only seen by you and your tutor. You might consider this as an option

[Hidden]

If anyone would prefer do answer the survey the link is below, thank you ladies

surveymonkey.com/r/CQDYCNP

[Hidden]

hi I tried to do the survey but its closed !!

kind regards

Sinead