Angela Dilger: "Ovarian cancer or even the thought of it had never entered my mind"

With no family history of cancer, it took Boston-based Angela multiple visits to the doctor before she had a diagnosis.

“When I was diagnosed I assumed that my case was one for the medical journals. 

How could I have been seen by five doctors on seven occasions without a diagnosis?

But now I know that my case is commonplace.

Ovarian cancer or even the thought of it had never entered my mind. And my doctor didn’t suggest it either, despite my symptoms.

Foolishly, I thought that my yearly smear test covered all bases.

It is obvious how women can be lulled into a false sense of security. I had no family history.

Unfortunately, my daughters, my sister and my niece now do and there still remains no accurate early detection test.

Fear is there, and it is hard and present. I felt lost, vulnerable and isolated. 

I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and a week later all my visible cancer was removed. My right ovary and appendix were removed as one solid tumor and half of my colon. Bad luck? No. An abomination.

It is terrifying and disempowering to wait and watch for the return of this sneaky disease.

This cannot be as good as it gets. This is unacceptable. Medical science can and must do better.

We have enough strength and focus and reasons to live so that we may figure this out and be part of the cure.”

Donate now to our life-saving research at our own Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre.