Catherine, 33, was fit and healthy and thought she was having 'normal' symptoms experienced by millions of Aussies. Then a 'gut feeling' led her to discover the unthinkable
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From the outside, Catherine O'Dea looks fit, healthy and normal. For most of her life, she rarely had to visit the doctor's office and never imagined anything was wrong. She had done everything right to stay on top of her health, including getting routine tests and pap smears.
![[Before her shock diagnosis, she was leading a seemingly normal and active life]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/03/94193579-14290645-Before_her_shock_diagnosis_she_was_leading_a_seemingly_normal_an-a-69_1737085387476.jpg)
But her world expectedly came crashing down at the age of 33 when she received a devastating diagnosis - despite never seeing the warning signs. The only thing she noticed were her 'normal women symptoms' - subtle signs that she would soon discover were ovarian cancer.
![[For most of her life, she rarely visited the doctor's office and never suspected anything was wrong, as she had done everything right to stay on top of her health]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/03/94193585-14290645-For_most_of_her_life_she_rarely_visited_the_doctor_s_office_and_-a-67_1737085387258.jpg)
'I now can honestly see how ovarian cancer is called a 'silent' cancer. My signs and symptoms were very, very vague,' Catherine, now 34, told FEMAIL. The communications manager, from Victoria, decided to see a GP for a check up after noticing her periods were irregular while tracking her cycle.
![[Catherine was diagnosed with stage 1A ovarian cancer. Stage A1 is an early stage ovarian cancer, a type that is confined to one ovary or fallopian tube]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/03/94194389-14290645-Catherine_was_diagnosed_with_stage_1A_ovarian_cancer_Stage_A1_is-a-70_1737085387489.jpg)
'I was getting my period every few weeks for a short amount of time. It was strange but I thought my "hormones must just be out of whack". I had a bit of pain in my right side, but again, I put this down to just "being a woman",' she said. 'I was just fed up with "putting up" with the period pain, the discomfort of my cycles. I just knew in my gut my body wasn't 100 per cent. I decided to put my health first - and that's how it started. I still look back and think, "Thank God", because so many of us overlook our own health.'.
![[Catherine hopes by sharing her story, many will be encouraged to get checked]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/03/94194393-14290645-Catherine_hopes_by_sharing_her_story_many_will_be_encouraged_to_-a-71_1737085387736.jpg)
