‘My 20 special years’
After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Linda Chapman couldn’t see a future for herself but 20 years on she’s living life to the full
When Linda Chapman wakes up in the morning, there’s usually so much fun to pack into the day, she doesn’t have time to worry about what tomorrow might bring. At 66, the retired building society branch manager could be heading off to her allotment with husband Dennis (70) and their four grandchildren. She may be planning their Golden Wedding celebrations or, throwing herself into her Open University degree studies. “I’m naturally a glass-half-full person, but I never forget how lucky I am,” says Linda, who lives in Storrington, West Sussex. Twenty years ago though, it was a very different story. Linda had just been diagnosed with early stage ovarian cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy following a hysterectomy.
“The first thing that crossed my mind every morning was: ‘Have I got a future?’” she recalls. Compared to most other cancers, the survival rate is low because, with no national screening service, the disease has usually spread before women are diagnosed. “I daren’t think too far ahead. I was full of fear and it was really scary. It took me a good seven or eight years before I could wake up and not think about ovarian cancer,” she adds. Back then, not only was the prognosis poor, but little awareness, help or information was around and she felt very isolated. “It is quite strange looking back just how unprepared I was. Nowadays with the internet, you’d have a better idea but I didn’t even realise chemotherapy would involve having a needle in my arm and an infusion. I bought a cross stitch kit to pass the time without realising one hand would be tied up!” she says. Linda had been suffering with a bloated, niggly stomach for about a year and was being treated for an irritable bowel before undergoing an investigative op for fibroids in December 1996. When she woke up, she’d been given a hysterectomy and her ovaries had been removed. Then just 47, there was so much she wanted to do but she feared she wouldn’t following the devastating diagnosis. “I had two sons aged 20 and 23. I wanted to see them get married. I liked to think I might have grandchildren but nothing was certain at that point and I felt very alone.” By the time she was finishing her treatment, somebody handed her a newsletter produced by the fledgling ovarian cancer charity, Ovacome. In it, she found other women struggling like her. “It was a huge relief to read about other people in a similar position and discover support was available,” adds Linda, who, as soon as she was well enough, became a co-ordinator for the ‘Phone A Friend’ service which put sufferers in touch. Today, the service has been replaced with a helpline and online forum by the campaigning charity, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. “I just wish it had been there when I first needed it,” adds Linda, who has also fundraised to support the work. Linda, who is in long-term remission and hasn’t even had annual check-ups since 2011, adds: “Somebody once described having cancer to me as a badly wrapped gift when at the time it didn’t feel like a gift at all. But if anything good comes out of cancer, it’s having the opportunity to reflect on your life and maybe change things.” One of the things she changed was retiring from her full-time job and becoming self employed to give her more free time to spend with friends and family – especially with her grandchildren. “Becoming a grandma was particularly special because it wasn’t certain I would be. “For me, cancer opened lots of doors. I’ve done lots of things and my experiences have been quite varied. I think we’ve had a different lifestyle. “Sometimes I have to give myself a talking to but now I wake up and don’t even think about cancer!” If caught early, women today have a 90 per cent chance of living for more than five years after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, says the charity’s Chief Medical Advisor Professor Sean Kehoe. “While overall survival in ovarian cancer has improved slightly, there has been significant advancement in the management of the disease, such as chemotherapy before surgery which can reduce side effects. And new drugs mean individualised treatments are replacing a more ‘blunderbuss approach,’ ” says Professor Kehoe. as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, this month ovacome has launched a campaign ‘Because you are special to me’ to raise the profile of the disease. the charity’s patron, actress Jenny agutter, is promoting the sale of informational keepsakes to give to family and friends. If you’d like to order one, visit www. ovacome.org.uk and click where it says ‘ovarian cancer awareness month, click here to get involved’
‘If anything good comes out of cancer, it’s having the opportunity to reflect on your life’