Ovarian Cancer 'Diagnosis' transcript
Lisle (Age 74, diagnosed 10 years ago. Stage 2) - It's 10 years ago since I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I had a diary full of all my plans for 1998, and suddenly, all of my plans blew out the window.
Daphne (diagnosed 5 years ago. Stage 3) - I'll never forget, I was told to get my parents here from the UK as soon as possible, because the deterioration would be rapid. That if I hadn't prepared a Will, it would be a very good time to get my affairs in order - which completely freaked me out. But that was what I was dealing with. That they would do everything possible to save my life. That's the path that I was on. My sister, who was with me, was sent off for grief counselling. It became evident that I was in a very life-threatening situation. This all came out of nowhere. All came out of nowhere.
Sharyn (Age 49, diagnosed 1 year ago. Stage 3) - I was horrified, to tell you the honest truth. I was scared and my immediate reaction is ‘why me?' I was just literally upset and devastated.
Helen (Age 54, diagnosed 5 months ago. Stage 3) - I think I just put it in the ‘I can't look at that' box and pretended it was all fine.
Maureen (Age 55, diagnosed 6 months ago. Stage 2) - We don't have any cancer in our family at all. No one's had it. I'm the first. For me, I've never been really sick at all. I've just had a normal life.
Margaret (Age 65, diagnosed 2 years ago. Stage 3) - Determination. I just wasn't going to let it get the better of me. For roughly 6-12 months, it takes a lot out of you. You can't do certain things, and you do change your life somewhat. Then you just get back to doing what you can.
Peter (Wife Julie diagnosed 2 years ago. Stage 4) - Initially, the shock of it was just horrible. We, more or less, just went into panic mode. Thinking there wasn't long to go, by what we were being told. The family was in disarray - it was just horrific.
Julie (Age 41, diagnosed 2 years ago. Stage 4) - I think women, and I was one of these women in the beginning, you're so scared. You look on the internet and read about ovarian cancer and you're almost paralysed with fear. You think, ‘I'm going to die'. But it doesn't have to be that way. 25% of women with late stage ovarian cancer do survive. That could be you.
Joanne (Age 44, diagnosed 5 years ago. Stage 3) - I'd heard of it only. I remember lying there just in utter shock and disbelief. I couldn't believe it and I'll never forget it. My immediate thoughts went to my mum and what are we going to do now. I just couldn't believe it. I felt these things didn't happen to younger women.
Veronica (Age 55, diagnosed 8 months ago. Stage 4) - It was hard, and I think maybe it took a week to two weeks until it really sank in. But then I didn't think about the statistics. I just thought I'd concentrate on the immediate action. What could I do to at least have some chance? Also, I'm a maths teacher and I've always told my students about the chances of winning lotto, and I thought that my chance of beating cancer is certainly much greater than winning lotto. So many people play lotto every week, and they think at some stage they'll win. So, I thought I'd give it my best shot as well.
