A mum who was taking medication for IBS received a devastating phone call while at work that would change her life. Gill Guy-Edwards started getting pains in her abdomen, she needed to urinate more often and experienced changes to her bowel movements.
Doctors told the 58-year-old she had a prolapsed womb and would need a hysterectomy. But blood tests soon showed high levels of CA125, a cancer antigen protein.
An ultrasound found a large mass on her right ovary and she was sent for a CT scan. Speaking about the day she got the phone call Gill said: "It was during Covid and I got a phone call to tell me I had ovarian cancer which in itself is really traumatic.
"Covid made it more isolating because you're on your own. I was very ill at the beginning so to be told over the phone was a complete shock. I'd researched it over Christmas after being told I had a mass on my ovaries but you never prepare yourself for someone telling you that," Gill told the Liverpool Echo.
She added: "I had abdominal pain, weeing more, issues with my bowel movement. I had period pain too and I hadn't had a period in 14 years and persistent bloating. I was told it could be IBS. A lot of people told me they thought I'd lost weight too which was another symptom and when you put them all together really highlight what it could be."
Ovarian cancer affects the two small organs (ovaries) that store the eggs needed to make babies. Anyone with ovaries can get ovarian cancer, but it mostly affects those over 50.
Gill's cancer is incurable and she's raising awareness about her journey to help others spot the signs. She said: "It's the gynaecological parts of the body that people don't talk about and symptoms can be mixed up with something else.
"It's been life-changing and I wanted to do something to highlight the signs and symptoms to women and people with ovaries. By the time it gets picked up it's so advanced and not only is it incurable, it's terminal.
"It's so easy to think you're menopausal. This cancer prolapsed my womb which also happens in the menopause. I think with periods, people just accept the bloating, we just accept it's the time of the month but we've got to be vigilant. If it continues, you need to see your GP, it's as simple as that.
"We aren't talking invasive procedures, it's a simple blood test or ultrasound. It's basic that can save people's lives."
Gill, along with her family and friends, took part in the Princes Park 5K Your Way park run to say "Pants to Ovarian Cancer" in the hopes of raising funds and awareness. She also had the opportunity to light up St George's Hall purple.
Gill said: "I joined a 5k group to be physically active during my treatment which is important. You can't see yourself as dying and I knew I wanted to do something. We wore our pink pants, drawing attention to the gynaecological area, and the focus was to get the message out there that those symptoms could be something else.
"With this, you can't feel a lump and that's what motivated me. I have two children and four grandchildren and I want to be around as long as I can, this will unfortunately limit my situation and the thought of other people being in this situation is what drives me to make a change."
Gill has praised a support group, Sunflowers in Aigburth which offers a range of activities including yoga, tai chi, counselling and holistic therapies for people with cancer. She added: "It's like a family. It's not all about cancer, it's about living with it.
"It's important if you have persistent symptoms that you keep knocking on that door and seeing your GP, it can save your life. Symptoms can be confused with IBS or menopause, I was on IBS medication, but these things aren't normal."
Anyone wishing to donate can do so here. More about the Sunflowers Centre can be found here.
