Glenda’s journey with ovarian cancer began with bloating, back pain, and unusual bleeding — classic symptoms of ovarian cancer that were dismissed for over a year. Today, she shares her story of how adversity inspired her to give back to the ovarian cancer community. THANK YOU, Glenda, for sharing your story with us and your work to influence ovarian cancer in Australia!
“I was told my symptoms were menopause. My doctor even said, ‘Oh, we all get aches and pains.’ I felt dismissed and ignored.”
After finding a new doctor, Glenda learned she had Stage 4 epithelial high-grade serous ovarian cancer. “Hearing the diagnosis, I felt like the floor split apart, and I was falling, hitting the sides as I descended. My life would never be the same again.”
Glenda knew that she couldn’t control the cancer, but she knew there were things that she could do for herself that would help with cancer, the treatments, and, of course, her mental health.
“I juiced, walked to chemo, adopted a plant-based diet, meditated daily, and made art.
Her message to women: “It is YOUR body. If something doesn’t feel right, keep going to doctors until one hears you. Go to 100 doctors if need be. Also, slow down. My life was crazy hectic, but now, I take time to look after myself. I don’t work as hard. I sit in my backyard and find contentment in watching the clothes dry in the breeze. I journal my thoughts and feelings. I enjoy life a lot more.”
Now, 8 years into her survivorship, Glenda works as an ovarian cancer ambassador with the OCRF in Australia. She shares her story widely, reminding us: “I’m not scaring people, I’m awaring them.”
“If my doctor had acted on my first symptoms that had appeared back in 2016, my cancer would have been diagnosed at a much earlier stage. Yes, I am alive and well now. But being diagnosed earlier would have prevented me from experiencing physical pain for so long, and maybe my treatment may have been less severe.”
“Women have been ignored for far too long,” Glenda concludes. “Our bodies are temples and are precious beyond words. Value yourselves and persist when things don’t feel right. You are the captain of your own ship.”
My work with OCRF has taken my face around Australia, my home, for the annual “Frocktober” event in the form of billboards, posters, and some good old-fashioned community awareness. This event is a wonderful fundraising event where people wear dress-ups, including their favourite frock. I have also participated in a stair challenge in Melbourne, where I climbed 1800 stairs to raise funds and awareness! This year, in August, I spoke and shared my story at the Cancer Summit in Sydney, which was a great privilege! I love being an ambassador as it’s fun, but ultimately, it allows the public to donate funds for research, along with reading up about all things ovarian cancer. This can only increase the intensity of research and knowledge, along with HOPE for all women experiencing ovarian cancer, now and in the future. A screening test is just around the corner, which is a fantastic prospect!
