Jemma and her team have announced their support for U.K. Gynaelogical Cancer Charity, The Eve Appeal. 

We talked with a cancer sufferer to try and highlight why it is so important for young women to understand what to look out for and to realise that it isnt just older women who suffer from these types of cancer.

"Lorna Skelly was 24 and at university when she was experiencing pain before periods and during sexual intercourse.  The GP suspected appendicitis initially but then recommended a pap smear test.  She heard nothing regarding the results so assumed all was well.

In December 06 she was rushed into hospital with extreme abdominal pain.  An ultrasound scan revealed that she had an ovarian cyst approx 10cm x 6cm which had grown around her fallopian tubes and had ruptured. 

During January 07 Lorna was summoned to the hospital for the news that the cyst had grown malignant cells and she was diagnosed with Stage 1 ovarian cancer.  Because the cyst had ruptured there was a possibility that the malignant cells had spread to other organs or lymph nodes.  She was admitted for a second bout of surgery to remove her appendix and for various biopsys including colon, fat pad  etc.

Lorna then underwent 6 months of chemo and now has 3 monthly oncologist visits, ultrasounds and CA125 blood tests.

 Lorna is now a nurse and considers herself lucky that her cyst ruptured otherwise she may not have known about it until much later when her cancer may have progressed to stage 3 or even 4.

Lorna’s experience prompted her younger sister to visit her GP as she had similar abdominal pains.  Her sister was also diagnosed with an ovarian cyst which was removed during surgery along with her fallopian tubes.  Although non malignant she is being closely monitored.

There is a happy ending to this story.  Despite questions over her fertility Lorna and her partner recently gave birth to their first child.  Out of 18'500 women diagnosed in the U.K. each year though, this will not be the case, with as many as 7'500 still dying from cancers of the womb, vagina, vulva, cervix and ovarian.

Visit www.eveappeal.org.uk for more information on symptoms and how you can get involved!