Sarah Nicholson, 26, from Newcastle, had been suffering from severe bloating for a while, along with abdominal pain, tiredness, and a change in her toilet habits.
This led her to believe that she suffered from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, as she had all of the symptoms.
However, following a scan it was revealed that Sarah actually had two large tumours in her ovary.
One was 10lbs, which is the same size as a rugby ball, and the other 4lbs, roughly about the size of an orange.
The devastating news meant that Sarah had some big decisions to make about her future.
Sarah was told she would not be able to have children if she underwent a hysterectomy, as well as the removal of the tumours.
Speaking about her decision, Sarah told Metro: "I had meetings to discuss what I could do next and to talk about my fertility, I was asked if I wanted to have a hysterectomy.
"For me it was a no brainer and I decided to have it. I did not want the risk.
"It was a difficult decision to make and it was upsetting because it would mean I would never have children of my own."
When Sarah visited her GP and was given the diagnosis she said that she had prepared herself for bad news.
"They said I was at stage three – that’s one stage away from being terminal.
"This was really serious and I knew it was going to affect my future."
The brave young woman is urging others to be aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, and wants to highlight that although it is uncommon in women under 50, it still happens.
"Ovarian cancer is known as the ‘silent killer’ because the symptoms are often put down to less severe medical issues," she said.
What is ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer, or cancer of the ovaries, is one of the most common types of cancer in women.
The ovaries are a pair of small organs located low in the tummy that are connected to the womb and store a woman's supply of eggs.
Ovarian cancer mainly affects women who have been through the menopause (usually over the age of 50), but it can sometimes affect younger women.
Common symptoms of ovarian cancer include:
- feeling constantly bloated
- a swollen tummy
- discomfort in your tummy or pelvic area
- feeling full quickly when eating
- needing to pee more often than normal
See your GP if:
- you've been feeling bloated most days for the last three weeks
- you have other symptoms of ovarian cancer that won't go away
- you have a family history of ovarian cancer and are worried you may be at a higher risk of getting it
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