My Story

On Wednesday 12th October 2022, Gary and I attended an appointment with a gynae oncologist who just a few weeks previously had removed my left ovary and fallopian tube, along with a mass (inconclusive, at that time). Following a few brief sentences of conversation, as we naively assumed we were just there for a follow-up appointment, she delivered the news that no-one ever wants to hear - that the histology of the mass showed that I had clear cell ovarian cancer.

In the weeks and months that followed, instead of attempting a second round of IVF as we had planned, I found myself undergoing major surgery to remove my remaining ovary and tube, uterus, cervix, eight lymph nodes and a portion of my omentum, before going through six rounds of chemotherapy. 

Throughout these months, the incredible team and others like myself that I've met through Maggie's Cheltenham were - and continue to be - an absolute lifeline. The young adults support group, who meet every other week, is led by a psychologist and provides a totally safe space for 25-to-40 year-olds to share our worries, victories, fears and reflections (and quite often cakes!) and help us all feel so much less alone in a world where you feel like the only person your age experiencing things that no-one should ever have to go through. 

Maggie's offer a huge range of cancer services, including one-to-one and peer support, relaxation and exercise sessions, financial and benefits advice, courses and workshops, for people going through cancer themselves and for friends and family, all completely free of charge. Aside from setting myself this enormous physical challenge as I continue to recover, by running the London Marathon I hope I can go even a tiny way towards giving something back.