Catherine, 33, was fit and healthy and thought she was having ‘normal’ symptoms experienced by millions of Aussies. Then a ‘gut feeling’ led her to discover the unthinkable

From the outside, Catherine O’Dea looks fit, healthy and normal.

For most of her life, she rarely had to go to the doctor’s office and never thought anything was wrong. She had done everything she could to stay on top of her health, including getting routine tests and pap smears.

But her world came crashing down at the age of 33 when she received a devastating diagnosis – despite never seeing the warning signs.

The only thing she noticed were her ‘normal female symptoms’; subtle signs she would soon discover were ovarian cancer.

‘I can now honestly understand that ovarian cancer is called a ‘silent’ cancer. My signs and symptoms were very vague,” Catherine, now 34, told FEMAIL.

The communications manager from Victoria decided to go to the doctor for a check-up after noticing that her periods were irregular while monitoring her cycle.

‘I got my period every few weeks for a short time. It was strange, but I thought my “hormones were just out of whack”. I had a little pain on my right side, but again, I put this down to “just being a woman,” she said.

‘I was just tired of ‘putting up with’ the period pain and discomfort of my cycles. I just knew my body wasn’t 100 percent. I decided to put my health first – and that’s how it started. I still look back and think, ‘Thank God,’ because so many of us overlook our own health.”

From an outsider’s perspective, Catherine O’Dea is fit, healthy and normal. At 33, she was given the devastating diagnosis of ovarian cancer – despite never seeing the warning signs

Before her diagnosis, she led an apparently normal and active life.

Catherine loved sports and by 2024 she was involved in netball, women’s football and rugby.

“I considered myself quite fit and healthy, as I have been most of my life,” she said.

“I rarely went to the doctor unless it was for a sports injury.”

‘Everything in terms of women’s health seemed fine, the tests were up to date, but unfortunately smears cannot detect the early stages of ovarian cancer.’

A Pap smear is only used to screen for cervical cancer.

‘Nothing alarming’

In early 2024, she started tracking her cycle, but noticed an unusual pattern.

“I noticed the irregular periods, along with a rash, fatigue and a dull, stabbing pain in my right side – although nothing alarming,” said Catherine.

‘I thought all these symptoms were just related to my hormones going off and my cycle – something that women deal with very often for a variety of reasons.’

Before her shock diagnosis, she led an apparently normal and active life

Before her shock diagnosis, she led an apparently normal and active life

She made an appointment with a doctor because she believed her symptoms might be due to endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Catherine underwent several blood tests, several follow-up appointments with the GP, an iron infusion, an ultrasound and was ultimately referred to a gynaecologist.

“They thought there was a ruptured cyst on my right ovary which could be linked to endometriosis and which they thought could explain the pain – something that is quite common,” she said.

‘It was the gynecologist who left no box unchecked and I am so grateful for his thoroughness. “He didn’t just want to ‘solve’ my problems, he wanted to get to the bottom of the ‘why’,” she said.

After undergoing more tests, she received a call from her gynecologist the next day, who explained that he had noticed something unusual but was “not too concerned.”

She underwent an MRI to assess whether she might have endometriosis after showing ‘faint signs’ of the condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus.

Her gynecologist referred her results to a hospital where doctors discovered a “hardened mass” on her right ovary, which they initially thought was a ruptured cyst.

“And this was the first time I physically heard the word ‘cancer,’” Catherine recalls.

‘But to be honest, it was never really a big consideration for me, even during my referral appointment with the oncologists because of my age, and I didn’t show any major signs of cancer in my blood work, so we really didn’t do that. think this was the case.

‘We thought it could possibly be a pre-cancerous stage, where the cells are abnormal and could eventually develop into something nasty, but that’s unlikely.’

For most of her life, she rarely visited the doctor's office and never suspected anything was wrong because she had done everything she could to stay on top of her health.

For most of her life, she rarely visited the doctor’s office and never suspected anything was wrong because she had done everything she could to stay on top of her health.

She had to undergo surgery to confirm her diagnosis.

‘Before the operation we didn’t know what it was. But honestly, I never thought it would end with the diagnosis that it did,” she said.

Catherine had surgery on September 30 last year to remove her right ovary and fallopian tube, along with biopsies from surrounding areas.

‘My operation was an oophorectomy where we removed the right ovary and fallopian tube. “I am blessed to be in a position where the surgery was the immediate magnitude of it for me,” she said.

On October 8, she was diagnosed with stage 1A ovarian cancer. Stage A1 is early-stage ovarian cancer, a type limited to one ovary or fallopian tube.

“It probably took a while for it to sink in,” she said.

‘There was a lot of confusion, some shock and in a way I felt like I almost didn’t have cancer because I felt like I hadn’t experienced it as such.

‘My new normal is checks every six months, including scans, blood tests, ultrasounds and now the route for my fertility options.

“But then again, considering how much worse it could have been, I still feel like I’m lucky.”

Physically, she said her post-surgery recovery “couldn’t have gone better.”

“The mental side of things, and trying to grasp exactly what happened, is probably the hardest thing to deal with,” Catherine said.

Catherine was diagnosed with stage 1A ovarian cancer. Stage A1 is early-stage ovarian cancer, a type limited to one ovary or fallopian tube

Catherine was diagnosed with stage 1A ovarian cancer. Stage A1 is early-stage ovarian cancer, a type limited to one ovary or fallopian tube

Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer

Symptoms of ovarian cancer can be vague and often difficult to diagnose.

It is very important that you see your doctor if you have any of the symptoms below that persist. There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer, so all women should be aware of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Most reported symptoms:

  • Bloated feeling in the abdomen
  • Stomach or pelvic pain
  • A feeling of fullness after eating a small amount
  • Frequent or urgent need to urinate

Other signs and symptoms:

  • Changes in bowel movements
  • Unexplained weight gain or loss
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Pain in the lower back
  • Indigestion or nausea
  • Bleeding after menopause or between periods
  • Pain during sex or bleeding afterwards

Source: Ovarian cancer Australia

During her journey she joined Workout 4 Women Challenge after contacting Ovarian Cancer Australia for support.

Workout 4 Women is a free fitness challenge that anyone can participate in to raise money for people dealing with the life-changing news of an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

“A big part of me felt the need to take my experience and turn it into something positive. It was only through researching what exactly ovarian cancer was, because I was honestly so unsure about it, that I came across the challenge,” she said.

‘I thought if I can use my experience to start a conversation, or just spark the thought of having that check-up done if you think something isn’t right, then why not, because as I know ovarian cancer is difficult detectable in its kind. early stages.

‘Symptoms are so vague and can often be linked to other conditions – that’s how my journey started, I thought it was ‘something else’.’

It’s only been four months since her diagnosis, but Catherine said she feels “physically good.”

“It’s still quite early… The mental battle of a bit of ‘fear’ about whether or not it will happen again is creeping in,” she admitted.

“I’m still honestly learning about it, but sharing my story has helped me tenfold, and as time goes on, I’m slowly coming to understand it.”

Warning signs

She urged everyone to look out for common symptoms, including abdominal bloating, stomach pain, feeling full after eating a small portion and frequent or urgent need to urinate.

Other symptoms include changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight gain or loss, excessive fatigue, lower back pain, nausea, and pain during sex.

Catherine hopes that by sharing her story, many will be encouraged to get checked

Catherine hopes that by sharing her story, many will be encouraged to get checked

“Again, the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are so vague and often confused with other conditions. It is important to remember that all of these symptoms can be caused by other, less serious medical conditions,” she said.

‘However, if you experience any of these symptoms that are persistent and bothersome, you should see your doctor. They can examine you and, if necessary, conduct further investigation to determine the cause of your problems.

“If you are uncomfortable with your doctor’s diagnosis or are still concerned about unexplained persistent symptoms, you should seek a second opinion.”

She hopes that by sharing her story, many will be encouraged to get checked.

“Book that check-up, your health is so important, and too often we put things aside,” she said.

‘Whether it’s for yourself, your mother, your girlfriend or another woman, encourage them to book that appointment, whatever it may be.

‘You know your body better than anyone, so always listen to what your body says and trust your instincts. Keep a record of your symptoms in our complaints diary and take this file with you to your doctor.’

For those going through Cancer, Catherine said, “You are so strong.”

‘I’ve heard so many stories, especially about ovarian cancer, and one important theme is the strength of these women.

“If I had any advice it would be to rely on the support of this great community that we have. I can’t express how much it has helped me.’