Argus reporter Rachel Nurse was just 22 years old when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She talks about her experience battling the disease, and how she hoped she can use her experiences to raise awareness of the condition.

THREE words everyone likes to hear is "I love you". Arguably the best three.

The worst, in my opinion is, "you have cancer". No one wants to hear these three together.

But it was those three words I heard when I was 22.

I felt numb. I felt nothing. When the doctor told me, I was with my dad.

I knew I was unwell and I knew that I had been feeling pain for some time, but I didn't expect it to be that.

South Wales Argus: Before diagnosis

Rachel pictured before her diagnosis

I don't know anything about ovarian cancer. Most people know about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer in women, but ovarian isn't spoken about as widely, so I didn't know what this meant for me.

Some of the most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are feeling constantly bloated, a swollen tummy and discomfort in your tummy or pelvic area. For this reason it's called "a silent killer" because many women have these symptoms most of the time, especially when they are on their period. Feeling bloated and in pain is so common for so many, they may not have thought they have cancer.

Hearing the side effects I could face as a result of the chemotherapy I would need to have drenched me in fear. It would likely result in a loss of appetite, fatigue and nausea - and I experienced them all.

My beautiful hair, which was 35 inches long, was going to be lost too.

However, my fear transformed into a feeling of urgency. The urgency to get the message out to as many people as I can about my situation.

I want people to be aware that this can happen to anyone at any age.

I never shy away from talking about my experience - to me it is important to be clear that cancer does not discriminate, anyone can get it. However, ovarian cancer is rare for my age.

South Wales Argus: During treatment I sometimes wore a wig ideally to my hair before chemotherapy.

During treatment Rachel sometimes wore a wig

A few days after my diagnosis, I asked family and friends if they could donate to Velindre Cancer Centre, the hospital where I received chemotherapy. I raised more than £2,000.

My fundraiser shows that one person can make a difference, big or small. I wanted to turn a negative into a positive. It is easy to donate online and in many ways which can be found on the Velindre Cancer Care website.

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I felt I lost everything during my diagnosis and treatment. I know now that this isn't true - but I did lose a lot.

I lost my hair due to chemotherapy.

I lost my motivation as I was fatigued and exhausted.

And the one thing I lost and spent months search for, was my old self.

What had happened was I "went over the fence", as many people call it. I had gone to another place I had never been before, and the fence now seemed too high for me to climb back over, I have no way of getting back.

On one side are the non-diagnosed people, and on the other - the side I am now on - is the cancer club side; a place where you are still you, but at the same time a different person.

After a diagnosis, no matter what it is, cancer changes you.

I now smile every second I am awake and likely when I sleep too.

I am grateful for everything, for the words I get to write, read and speak - to my full set of teeth.

I appreciate all the small things, from my morning black coffee when I wake up, to my glass of iced water before I go to sleep.

After two operations, IVF egg collection and six rounds of chemotherapy, I am now in remission at 23.

This does not mean I am cured - remission is decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer as my oncologist cannot tell me certain whether all microscopic cancer cells are gone.

For the next five years I will be getting cancer recurrence check-ups every three months.

Current research is looking into the diagnosis and early detection of ovarian cancer, and whether new treatments are safe and better than those currently available. My two tumours were going to be used for clinical trials in the USA which aim to find out more information about whether I was born with the condition, or whether it developed in adulthood, and to test current treatment.

However, they are not funding research on tumours from British patients, so when similar trials are available in the UK my oncologist said mine will be sent off as soon as possible.

I hope this means my negative experience will eventually make a difference to someone else, that my tumours will offer more ovarian cancer knowledge for scientists, and I hope sharing my story has helped you in some way.

Cancer affects everyone, whether you are the one who has been diagnosed with the disease, or if it's someone you love.

A life goal of mine now is to bring awareness of cancer ,but also about looking after your health, body positivity and battling loneliness.

South Wales Argus: Now me in remission

Rachel in remission

I’ve been speaking to so many ovarian cancer patients and survivors during this time who want to share the same messages I am.

What they all agree on is that it's okay not to feel okay.

If you are worried about anything physical, mental or emotional seek medical help. Speak to anyone who you trust if you want someone to come with you. No one is alone during cancer. No one is alone without cancer. There is always someone out there who will listen to you when you are having a bad day or feeling unwell.

I would like to give a massive thank you to the NHS, Heath Hospital Women’s Unit, Veldrine Cancer Centre, Dr Amy Quinton, Dr Aarti Sharma and the doctors, nurses, receptionists at Whitchurch Village Practice.

Thank you to everyone at South Wales Argus, The National and Newsquest for being the best support network and believing in me.

Thank you to my family and friends for giving me unconditional love.

I still remind myself every morning the one thing I told myself each morning during treatment.

"One person told you that 'you have cancer', but much more have and will say 'I love you' to you.

"You live for many years and be will be to tell them back, 'I love you too'."

If you or someone you love has cancer, you may benefit from one of these services: