Leondra was diagnosed with stage IIIb low-grade serous ovarian cancer, in October 2017, after experiencing persistent symptoms over several years. Prior to her diagnosis, she had heavy periods that lasted for weeks, severe pain while urinating, bowel changes, fever, fatigue, and persistent bloating.
These symptoms led her to visit her GP multiple times, yet she felt constantly dismissed. Her GP attributed her symptoms to a urinary infection, and prescribed pills to help manage her period.
“I felt like I was medically gaslit and I just wasn’t taken seriously”
Frustrated and in significant pain with a large distended stomach and unable to work, Leondra went to Accident and Emergency, where she finally received her diagnosis. The confirmation of ovarian cancer, while distressing, brought her a sense of relief as it explained everything she had been experiencing. “I actually felt a sense of relief, I finally knew why I had been so sick and why the quality of my life had been going downhill.”.
She underwent extensive treatment, including debulking surgery to remove her tumours, an oophorectomy (removal of ovaries), a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), and the removal of her omentum and appendix. This was followed by six rounds of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, in July 2023, Leondra experienced a recurrence, requiring another six rounds of chemotherapy.
One of the hardest, and most unexpected challenges for Leondra has been the effects of surgical menopause, which occurs when a woman has her ovaries removed. The sudden change impacted her physical capabilities making it difficult for her to undertake tasks essential to her role as an early childhood educator; things like sitting on the floor with the children became incredibly painful.
Leondra is passionate about ovarian cancer awareness as she had never heard of ovarian cancer until her diagnosis. If she had, she feels she may have been able to advocate better for herself and push for earlier testing.
Leondra also wishes more people understood the effects of living with ovarian cancer. “I had no idea that surgical menopause would be a big deal for me, but it was,” she says. She’s an advocate for women being proactive about their health. “Go to your GP and ask for specific tests and investigations. If your GP isn’t listening, go and get a second, third, and even fourth opinion.”
Her message to those who support ovarian cancer is one of gratitude: “Thank you to everyone who donates or fundraises for OCFNZ. You are making such a big impact for all women living with ovarian cancer.”
We are grateful to Leondra for sharing her experience with ovarian cancer and for helping us raise awareness. If you would like to share your story too, please get in touch.
