The old adage informs us that our health is our wealth, and one woman has gone to great lengths over the past week or so to ensure that we are paying attention to the potentially serious messages our bodies are sending us.
Erin Barrett has made headlines around the world, after sharing a Facebook plea urging women to look out for the signs of ovarian cancer; 'the silent disease'.
In her powerful post, Erin explained how she was diagnosed with the condition shortly after her daughter Edie's birth in September. She went on to have a tumour, her left ovary and fallopian tube removed.
Now undergoing chemotherapy, Erin is preparing for radiation treatment scheduled for the end of this month.
I’ve debated long and hard about posting anything here about my health. This feels like a very personal journey, yet, at...
Posted by Erin Barrett on Tuesday, 22 December 2015
Explaining the motivation behind her post, she wrote: "People have asked me what they can do to help. This is something I have struggled with as I have been so well looked after. My decision is to ask you all to help me raise awareness."
She went on to write a list of symptoms for women to look out for, including persistent stomach pain, persistent bloating, back pain, persistent tiredness, changes to bowel habits, needing to use the toilet more often, and finding it difficult to eat or feeling full quickly.
Appealing to every woman reading to look out for the signs and raise awareness among their own families and friend groups, Erin added: "Don’t worry, I’ve decided that I’ll be fine, and that’s just the way it is."
