A Wheatbelt woman who once had “zero awareness” of ovarian cancer symptoms is now sharing her story for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to give other women hope, and to encourage them to listen to their bodies and seek medical advice if something doesn’t feel right.
Quairading resident, Jo Haythornthwaite, said her ovarian cancer diagnosis came as a complete surprise after months of vague symptoms she dismissed as part of getting older and coping with grief after losing her husband.
“Before I was diagnosed in February last year, my awareness level for the symptoms of ovarian cancer at that time was absolutely zero,” Jo said.
“I just thought I was getting old and tired. In hindsight, I now recognise symptoms such as bloating and constipation, but at the time I didn’t consider them unusual or concerning.
“The only symptom that prompted me to visit my GP was a single episode of blood in my urine. I thought, that is not normal, I’d better see the doctor.”
After completing her treatment in August 2025, Ms Haythornthwaite was told the front-line treatment had been successful and there was no evidence of disease.
