Glenda, Australia

My name is Glenda and I am an ovarian cancer survivor of 8 years. Back in 2016 I was an overworked teacher/mother/wife/daughter and was experiencing some symptoms that were slowing me down. Bloating, discomfort , unusual bleeding and lower back pain. I saw 3 doctors. The first 2 dismissed my symptoms, putting them down to menopause (I was 49 at the time). But when I discovered a lump in my neck, I knew that something wasn’t right. I changed doctors for the 3rd time. She ran some tests and I was finally given a diagnosis: stage 4 high grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer. I felt like the floor had opened up and I was falling fast. I had extensive chemotherapy and surgery to remove 5 organs. I also became a vegan, and meditation and  exercise became a part of my healing process. I now have been cancer-free for over 7 years. I know that the reason I am alive is to help others, so I have become an Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation Ambassador. I share my story readily so that others are aware of ovarian cancer and have the hope that we will find a screening test so women are diagnosed a lot earlier. Women’s health matters and I am a strong advocate for raising awareness and encouraging women to speak up and be heard about their health. Thank you 🙏