NATALIE'S STORY

As I look into my daughter Emily’s eyes, I get a glance at her future and sometimes wonder if I will be a part of it. Will I hold her hand as she shares how her heart
flutters with her first crush; burst with pride as she receives awards, and wait with her for the HSC results to be posted at midnight, to learn if she won her first choice at Uni? Will I dance at her wedding and cradle her babies on my lap?

Two years ago, I took the future for granted, and assumed that I would spend the next decades accruing a lifetime of memories with my family. That assumption came to a screeching halt when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, at the tender age of 28. I had never heard of ovarian cancer before that moment.

My journey over the next 18 months was fraught with turmoil. Surgeries, chemotherapy, hallucinations, infections and discomfort eroded away the quality of my life so intensely that for months at a time, I was virtually incapacitated. The physical and emotional impact this had on both my family and myself would prove tortuous and exhausting, summoning every ounce of strength we could muster.

As my health deteriorated, my focus changed. My self pity began to diminish, and I began to examine my life, my values, and the world around me, uncovering a part of myself I had not previously encountered. I became a fi ghter, a warrior, a woman of destiny. These past two years have moulded me into a deeper, stronger and more compassionate woman, wife, mother and daughter. I am unabashedly grateful to my family, friends and work colleagues whose undying support and care throughout my entire ordeal made it tolerable, and unquestionably helped me through.

Through the GO Research Fund, I have met so many wonderful individuals who have given me so much, and allowed me to embrace my destiny and lead the way for others. I stumbled upon a support system that has lightened my load and enriched my journey. The GO Research Fund has helped me speak out about this disease and I hope this will make a difference for other women.

Writing this today, as a cancer survivor, I urge you all to seek regular medical care, tune into your body, and educate yourselves on the early warning signs of cancer. I beg you not to ignore symptoms that might otherwise go undetected. Education is the best road to prevention!

I urge you to assist the GO Research Fund, a sub-entity of the Royal Hospital
for Women Foundation. The Fund supports research, education and awareness
of all gynaecological cancers. Their research team is working hard to find a simple
diagnostic blood test for the early detection of ovarian cancer.

Natalie Newman

Sadly, Natalie’s story is all too common. She was a healthy young woman without
a care in the world when she suddenly found herself suffering from advanced
ovarian cancer. The GO Research Fund needs your help to continue research and
provide community awareness of gynaecological cancers. Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate of all gynaecological cancers and 70% of women have advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Because of this, our laboratory research is directed toward finding a simple blood test. This will mean that women with no symptoms can be screened for ovarian cancer so it can be diagnosed at an early stage when it is eminently curable.

Almost 20 women die of ovarian cancer every week in Australia and six out of every ten women who develop the disease will die within five years. Help us ensure that one day women can be screened for this silent killer.

Your assistance will make it possible for our daughters, mothers, sisters and friends to have a better future.

Catherine Menagé
Chairman
GO Research Fund – Executive

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