A woman whose life was "turned upside down" after a devastating medical blow is urging women to listen to their own bodies.
Charlotte Badescu, from Mossley Hill, was looking forward to starting her own family after marrying her husband John in July last year.
After working flat out on the NHS frontline throughout the pandemic, the couple - who are both doctors - decided to try for a baby, but after a few months they in ran into some difficulties.
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The 31-year-old said she was "struggling" to conceive and so went to her GP where blood tests showed abnormalities.
Further tests found a 16cm tumour filling her entire pelvis which was "90% cancerous" and so Charlotte was sent for major surgery to remove it.
She told the ECHO : "I had that the start of December and had my right ovary and fallopian tube removed.
"Tests on that showed I had a rare ovarian cancer, granulosa cell tumour, which accounts for about 2% of ovarian cancers."
The surgery was successful, but Charlotte is in a "waiting game" and undergoing fertility treatment with the hopes of starting a family in the future.
She added she is "in limbo" but has launched a fundraising challenge to raise money for Target Ovarian Cancer, a cause close to her heart.
She added: "I didn't have periods for three months after the wedding which was abnormal. If you have a change in your periods or your tummy doesn't feel right see your GP.
"If I hadn't seen my GP when I did it would've been different. I was fortunate but I had vague symptoms.
"You know your own body, the GP is the best place and they are more than happy to help put your mind at rest."
Just three months after her major surgery, Charlotte will be putting herself to the test by completing the Three Peaks Challenge later this year.
She said: "With me having had major surgery it's a major thing but I'm pushing myself to do this in July.
"I know it's difficult at the moment but if anyone can donate or even share with friends and family it would massively help."
Anyone wishing to support her fundraiser can do so by clicking here.
Charlotte said: "Gynaecological cancer research has always been disproportionately underfunded."
She added: "As the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer can be extremely vague, we need to spread the word to women about Target Ovarian Cancer's resources and website, and encourage them to see their GP if they are concerned."
Target Ovarian Cancer also works with GPs to provide specialist education, which is essential to be able to improve early diagnosis and prognosis.
More information can be found online by clicking here.
Husband John told the ECHO: "Charlotte has done a lot of work for charity, has always looked to give back to others.
"She's done shoebox appeals, worked in India, she's done all sorts."
Symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:
- Persistent bloating – not bloating that comes and goes
- Feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite
- Pelvic or abdominal pain (that's your tummy and below)
- Urinary symptoms (needing to wee more urgently or more often than usual)
- Changes in bowel habit (eg diarrhoea or constipation)
- Extreme fatigue (feeling very tired)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Any bleeding after the menopause should always be investigated by a GP
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