Interview OV46

Age at interview: 42

Age at diagnosis: 40

Brief Outline:

Ovarian cancer diagnosed in 2001 following digestive problems. Treated with surgery and chemotherapy.

Background:

Married; no children.

Felt less of a woman because her 'female bits' had been removed.

I think also there's an issue with having your female bits taken away. Even if you're not consciously aware of it, you know, obviously you have a scar and you know that your ovaries are not, I don't know why that should affect you but it does, you know you don't feel as much of a woman because of that. And I think, that equally must be the case if you have mastectomies as well but that's more evident because it's obviously external.