Breast cancer survivor battling advanced ovarian cancer 12 months after clean bill of health

A mum-of-three and breast cancer survivor is now fighting for her life less than 12 months after receiving a clean bill of health.

Miriam Gard, pictured at home with husband, David, and kids, Nicholas, 5, Christian, 7, and Genevieve, 10. Picture: Lachie Millard

A mum-of-three and breast cancer survivor is fighting for her life after being diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer, less than 12 months after receiving a clean bill of health following a preventive partial hysterectomy.

Miriam Gard, 43, had her first brush with cancer at only 26, diagnosed with breast cancer after discovering a suspicious lump.

“It started with literally feeling a little lump at the top of my chest. My doctor got straight into scans and blood tests, had a biopsy of the lump, removed the lump and then got the gene testing,” she said.

When the gene testing results returned, Mrs Gard was told she tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation, a faulty gene that significantly increases the odds of developing ovarian cancer among other cancers.

She almost immediately underwent a double mastectomy and was encouraged to get a hysterectomy later down the road.

“It was pretty confronting because I still felt pretty young,” she said.

“I felt like I was missing a body part, and I was removing a very womanly body part. It was pretty scary, pretty painful, it has been quite a journey through the years. I had to get them replaced, got infections, and it felt like they never sat right.”

Miriam Gard is undergoing chemotherapy prior to surgery later this month, pictured at home. Picture: Lachie Millard

The now mum-of-three was encouraged to retrieve her eggs through IVF prior to chemotherapy.

“I was never a big kid person and was happy to leave it to chance,” she said, however ultimately decided to embark on the egg retrieval process.

Luckily, she said, her three children, Genevieve, 10, Christian, 7, and Nicholas, 5, were all conceived naturally.

“It was all pretty quick (after being diagnosed), IVF, then chemo, then a break to recover and then got the implants, it went from one thing to the other,” she said.

“I felt like it took two years of my life.”

Over the past 15 years, visits to the gynaecologist became routine following her breast cancer diagnosis.

In November 2023, at age 42, Mrs Gard was given a preventive partial hysterectomy, keeping her ovaries to delay menopause. She had no symptoms at the time, and her ovaries had no cancer cells.

“I got everything removed except the ovaries as we wanted to play on the safer side,” she said.

Less than 12 months later in August 2024, she made a booking to see her gynaecologist after a bout of unusual bloating and cramps.

Miriam Gard was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer 12 months after undergoing a preventive hysterectomy, pictured at home with husband, David, and kids, Nicholas, 5, Christian, 7, and Genevieve, 10. Picture Lachie Millard

“Bloating definitely was my main symptom, and I get bloated sometimes. I kind of did wait a little while to see if it would come or go,” she said.

“I had cramps too and bowel changes, which I feel like I sometimes get.”

It was only because she had all the symptoms altogether over the span of a week that she became concerned.”

After speaking with her gynaecologist, Mrs Gard was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer in October 2024, a disease with only a 49 per cent five-year survival rate.

“I saw my gynaecologist at 1.00pm followed by scans and blood tests that afternoon. He called the next day and I got a port-a-cath in. I saw the oncologist and got started after that. I didn’t have time to digest stuff,” she said.

Mrs Gard said neither she nor her gynaecologist could have anticipated how quick her cancer had spread.

“It was hard because I wished we had just done the full hysterectomy a year ago. Would this have stopped it happening? I probably had a bit of regret in that he hadn’t taken the ovaries at the time,” she said.

Miriam Gard has said the support she has been given is unbelievable, pictured with her husband David. Picture: Lachie Millard

Her children have been hit particularly hard by the diagnosis, with the word “cancer” and “chemotherapy” almost completely off-limit at her house.

A little over seven years ago, Mrs Gard watched her brother pass away after being diagnosed with melanoma.

“He died from it and I don’t want those words to mean that for me to them,” she said.

“Fifteen years ago I thought ‘oh, I’ll be fine’, my brother and now me … not everyone is fine. I saw that road, and it could be my road, it was pretty scary. I’m wishing he was here for this part, and that’s why we don’t really say those things.”

Her devoted husband, David Gard, 43, and her children have been by her side since her diagnosis.

“I think I was a bit affected from the first one, but now I’m even more trying to change my outlook of life. I think we’ve all felt family is the most important thing and finding the peace,” she said.

“I was really scared because having kids, you think about it differently, how to get through with them and to go through chemotherapy again.

“We are rethinking about what’s important. Everyone has been so good in our community and our school. They have been doing up some meals for when I go and have my surgery (in late January), I didn’t know they would do that.”

Georgie McKenzie, Ovarian Cancer Australia’s support and advocacy nurse, said for many people like Mrs Gard, the symptoms can be subtle and often are mistaken for other conditions.

“Common symptoms include bloating, feeling full quickly, changes in appetite, unexplained weight changes, pelvic or abdominal pain, changes in bowel or bladder habits, and fatigue,” she said.

“If your doctor suspects ovarian cancer, they will examine you, ask about your symptoms, and may order tests like a CA125 blood test and a transvaginal ultrasound.

Ovarian cancer symptoms can often be subtle or mistaken for other conditions. Picture: Lachie Millard

“They may also do an internal vaginal exam to check the uterus and ovaries. If ovarian cancer is still suspected, a tissue sample (biopsy) may be done to confirm the diagnosis.

“Unlike cervical cancer, ovarian cancer cannot be detected through a pap smear. It’s important to pay attention to any persistent or unusual symptoms and seek medical advice as soon as possible.”

She continued that while symptoms may often be disguised, there are factors that can lead to an elevated risk of developing ovarian cancer.

“Increasing age, a family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer or colon cancer, or having one of several known genetic mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2, smoking tobacco, obesity, or use of Hormone Replacement Therapy may increase a person’s risk of developing the disease.”

You can support Miriam Gard through her GoFundMe.

Originally published as Breast cancer survivor battling advanced ovarian cancer 12 months after clean bill of health