Geelong’s Judy Williams shares ovarian cancer diagnosis journey amid GoFundMe fundraising

A Geelong woman has revealed how, after almost a year suffering “vague” symptoms, she was diagnosed with an often undetected cancer.

Judy Williams, 63, is fighting grade 3 ovarian cancer. Picture: Brad Fleet

Judy Williams is using her positive outlook on life to battle ovarian cancer.

The 63-year-old was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer on September 25, after living with symptoms since August last year.

Ms Williams said the cancer was one of the most difficult to diagnose, because symptoms were so “vague”.

According to the Cancer Council, it’s estimated more than 1200 people were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023, and there are often no obvious symptoms of the disease.

For Ms Williams, her symptoms included bloating, cramping pain in her abdomen and bad wind pain.

The Newtown resident said she gone back and forth with doctors for various tests, all coming up clear.

She said after additional blood tests and an ultrasound, she had a CT scan in September, which revealed a 7.4cm mass in her abdomen, and “the big C”.

The waiting wasn’t over though – Ms Williams said “the worst waiting time” was the five weeks before having a biopsy of the mass to determine the stage of the cancer.

Stage 3 is classified as advanced, and means the disease is in one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes, and has spread to outside the pelvis.

Ms Williams is preparing to start chemotherapy after having a hysterectomy. Picture: Brad Fleet

After her weeks of waiting, Ms Williams underwent a radical hysterectomy – the surgical removal of the uterus – on November 2.

She said she lost a litre of blood, and was in intensive care for five days after the surgery.

After a further five days in the hospital, Ms Williams was able to return home.

Her sister, Robyn Hall, launched a GoFundMe page to help Ms Williams get back on her feet both medically and financially.

Judy Williams, pictured with her sister Robyn Hall, who launched a GoFundMe to help her financially and medically get back on her feet. Picture: Supplied

Ms Williams had a wrist fusion earlier this year, which took her out of her nursing job for 20 weeks due to complications.

She said she’d been back at work only two or three weeks before receiving her cancer diagnosis, and because she was a casual worker, had to dip into her savings to pay bills.

“I had to get my head around the diagnosis, and I wasn’t really feeling emotionally up to going to work, with that hovering over my head,” she said.

“As it’s turned out, I haven’t been back to work the whole time since my cancer diagnosis.”

Through everything, Ms Williams has kept her sunny disposition and positive attitude, and is keen to start chemotherapy to “zap” the remaining cancer cells.

The GoFundMe page had raised more than $10,000 as of November 23.

Ms Williams said the support she’d received so far was “absolutely incredible”.

To support Judy, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-get-judy-back-on-her-feet

Originally published as Geelong’s Judy Williams shares ovarian cancer diagnosis journey amid GoFundMe fundraising