30-04-2025
Mum's 'whole world turned upside down' after mistaking ovarian cancer for menopause
ITV Granada's Tim Scott met Katherine, who found out she had ovarian cancer after originally thinking she was just starting the menopause.
A mum of three who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer says "her whole world turned upside down" after mistaking her symptoms for the menopause.
Katherine McBride, 55, from Walton-le-Dale, Preston, has been receiving treatment and is calling on people to get checked if their symptoms match.
She is backing a campaign by North West Cancer Research asking people of all genders to listen to their bodies.
Latest figures show those living in the North West are 17% more likely than the national average to have ovarian cancer.
Rates of ovarian cancer across the region (percentage compared to the national benchmark)
Katherine was diagnosed with cancer in July 2023.
She said: "It tore us apart. Our whole world just turned upside down."
"Having to break it to your daughters is just heartbreaking. You can't reassure them that everything is going to be okay.
"You have to stay strong for other people but also you're scared of what's going to happen.
"I was exhausted all of the time which is out of character for me because I'm always up and doing things.
"I thought it was possibly the start of the menopause. I did have the lower back pain, I thought that was old age.
"All the other symptoms can be mistaken for Irritable Bowel Syndrome or the menopause."
According to North West Cancer Research, the main symptoms of ovarian cancer are:
A swollen stomach or feeling bloated
Pain or tenderness in your stomach to the top of your thighs or the area betweenthe hips (pelvis)
No appetite or feeling full quickly after eating
An urgent need to wee, or to wee more often
Other symptoms can include indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea, back pain, feelingtired all the time, losing weight without trying, and bleeding from the vagina after themenopause.
Katherine said she felt silly going to the doctor for feeling tired, but after a series of tests, they confirmed she had stage four ovarian cancer.
'My first grandchild was just nine days old when I got the news and all I could think of was how guilty I felt for putting my family through such heartache at what should have been a wonderful time for us all.
'I'm now coming to the end of my latest round of targeted therapy, but the cancer has spread to my lymph nodes, so I am soaking up every single minute with family and it has given me a new appreciation of every special moment."
She added: 'My symptoms could have been easily missed and shrugged off. As a woman, we have a habit of rushing around after everyone else and forgetting about our own health, but it's so important to listen to our bodies and speak to a doctor as soon as possible.'
Katherine has been receiving treatment for the last two years at Preston Royal Hospital.
Nick Wood, a gynaecological oncologist from the hospital said getting checked early is crucial because no screenings are currently available.
He said: 'The signs of ovarian cancer are often brushed aside, or mistaken as being symptoms of other, less serious conditions.
'Early detection is key to effective treatment, so we urge anyone who feels as though something is wrong to listen to their body and see a doctor as soon as possible, as receiving a diagnosis in the early stages could significantly improve your chance of survival.'
He added: "If they feel that they have a symptom that might be related to ovarian cancer, they should challenge their healthcare professional with that, and ask them to do the blood test or the scan that is part of that programme of early diagnosis."
Katherine has asked people not to be scared to ring a doctor and make an appointment.
She continued: "Anything that is different for you that isn't normal for you, get it checked.
"It's better to have it dismissed than miss something."
