BY MICHELLE HERBISON When Nicholas Bottrell was asked to meet with his wife’s doctor he feared the worst. Various tests for Mary’s bloating, backache and shortness of breath revealed a lingering lethal disease – she had ovarian cancer. “Once you’re diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it’s too late to be cured. They can only prolong life to a certain extent,” Mr Bottrell said. Mary died 23 months later at 73. Ovarian cancer is six times more lethal than breast cancer with 75 per cent of women diagnosed dying within five years, according to the Women’s Cancer Foundation. Currently no government funding is available for research. Mr Bottrell said a hysterectomy, several weeks of chemotherapy and fluid-tapping at Melbourne and Geelong hospitals left Mary “on tenterhooks”. “She couldn’t walk or anything. My daughter Andrea took long service leave to look after her at home. “Believe me, when you get on that rollercoaster, it’s heartbreaking to see your loved ones go down. “We’re only a small family and our best friend is gone. It’s very lonely.” Mr Bottrell is now fundraising and working to increase awareness of this “silent killer”. The Bottrells have initiated an ovarian cancer fundraiser on Wednesday, October 3 between 6 and 8pm at The Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex, 44 Corio St, Geelong. Tickets cost $20 and include finger food. A charity auction will include more than 60 new items donated by local businesses including lawnmowers, microwaves, meal vouchers and sporting goods. All money raised will be donated to ovarian cancer research at the Royal Women’s Hospital.
By Michelle Herbison
WHEN Nicholas Bottrell was asked to meet with his wife’s doctor he feared the worst.
Various tests for Mary’s bloating, backache and shortness of breath revealed a lingering lethal disease – she had ovarian cancer.
“Once you’re diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it’s too late to be cured. They can only prolong life to a certain extent,” Mr Bottrell said.
Mary died 23 months later at 73.
Ovarian cancer is six times more lethal than breast cancer with 75 per cent of women diagnosed dying within five years, according to the Women’s Cancer Foundation.
Currently no government funding is available for research.
Mr Bottrell said a hysterectomy, several weeks of chemotherapy and fluid-tapping at Melbourne and Geelong hospitals left Mary “on tenterhooks”.
“She couldn’t walk or anything. My daughter Andrea took long service leave to look after her at home.
“Believe me, when you get on that rollercoaster, it’s heartbreaking to see your loved ones go down.
“We’re only a small family and our best friend is gone. It’s very lonely.”
Mr Bottrell is now fundraising and working to increase awareness of this “silent killer”.
The Bottrells have initiated an ovarian cancer fundraiser on Wednesday, October 3 between 6 and 8pm at The Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex, 44 Corio St, Geelong.
Tickets cost $20 and include finger food.
A charity auction will include more than 60 new items donated by local businesses including lawnmowers, microwaves, meal vouchers and sporting goods.
All money raised will be donated to ovarian cancer research at the Royal Women’s Hospital.
