This Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we share the story of Irene Koulogeorgiou, a 51-year-old Bulleen mother whose quick decision to get a strange belly button lump checked revealed stage four ovarian cancer. What she first dismissed as a minor infection led to chemotherapy, major surgery, daily self-injections and months of rehabilitation, all while raising her teenage daughter and holding tight to hope.
With nearly 2,000 Australian women diagnosed each year and fewer than half surviving five years, according to Cancer Australia, ovarian cancer is notoriously hard to detect, with no routine screening test and symptoms that are often subtle and easily dismissed.
Irene’s experience, alongside insights from Dr Prachi Bhave of Mercy Health, reminds us to know your body, speak up about unusual changes and never ignore the small signs that could save your life.
Learn more about the signs and symptoms via Cancer Australia’s ovarian cancer information page.
Irene has kindly agreed to share her personal story as a way to encourage other women to be vigilant about there health. Here is her story in her own words:
I was in the shower one morning in September 2024 when my fingers brushed over a small, hard lump in my belly button, about the size of a 20‑cent coin.
It looked harmless, so at first I told myself it was some weird little infection and tried not to think about it. But a few days later, something in me said, “just get it checked.”
When my GP saw it, her face changed. “Irene, this isn’t normal. Go straight to emergency.”
I didn’t realise then, but that decision saved my life.
At the hospital, they first suspected it might be a hernia. After an ultrasound and CT scan, a doctor called me into his office. On the screen behind him, I could see a diagram of my abdomen before he even said a word. My stomach dropped. “I’ve got ovarian cancer, don’t I?” I heard myself say. He looked at me and simply said, “yes”.
Within days, further scans and a biopsy confirmed it was stage four ovarian cancer.
Later I learned that nearly 2,000 Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. Fewer than half of them will live beyond five years, according to Cancer Australia. There is no screening test and signs or symptoms can be vague, making early detection extremely difficult.
Dr Prachi Bhave lead medical oncologist at Mercy Health and Austin Health, encourages women to notice even subtle changes.
“Symptoms are often mild and easy to brush off, especially when you’re busy, but they might be the first sign of something serious. Feeling full quickly, bloating, nausea or unexplained weight loss can all be signals to get checked,” she says.
She adds, “Women are often used to pain and life gets in the way. We check for breast cancer, let’s broaden the scope to other cancers too.”
Two weeks after diagnosis, I started chemotherapy. I had six rounds in total. Strangely, the first three rounds gave me almost no side effects. I still did school drop‑off for my teenage daughter and tried to keep our routine as normal as possible.
After surgery, reality hit harder. The nausea, tingling in my hands and feet and exhaustion, some days it felt like my body wasn’t my own. I am a restless person, so being told I couldn’t drive, lift anything heavy or move around too much felt like having my wings clipped. Injecting myself with daily blood thinners was something I never imagined I’d have to do. Holding a needle to your own skin makes everything feel very real.
Through it all, my team at Mercy Hospital became like a second family. Their calm confidence and kindness made it easier for me to stay grounded and keep showing up, treatment after treatment.
I’ve always coped by looking forward rather than getting stuck in “what ifs”. I knew that late‑night Googling and reading worst‑case stories wouldn’t serve me, so I set boundaries for myself. I haven’t cried about my diagnosis. That surprises some people, but for me, it’s not about pretending it isn’t serious. It’s about choosing to focus on hope more than fear.
Dr Bhave knows the field is changing quickly. New drugs and treatment combinations are being tested all the time, and research is ongoing into a blood test for earlier diagnosis. Knowing there are new options gives me a sense of forward momentum.
Currently, there is no detectable disease. With ovarian cancer, doctors avoid the word “remission,” so instead I am considered stable and closely monitored. I live scan to scan, but I also live day to day, school run to school run, walk to walk, coffee to coffee treasuring ordinary moments with my daughter in a way I never did before.
This Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I want women to hear this: listen to your body. If something feels off, don’t brush it aside. Make the appointment. Ask the question. Trust your medical team, protect your mindset, and take it one day at a time.
I never imagined a strange little lump in my belly button would lead me here, but with the right support and a stubborn belief in better days, I’ve discovered I’m stronger than I ever knew.
