Natasha Reynolds, from Sheffield, visited the GP once a month for a year and a half before she was officially diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Like 40% of women with ovarian cancer, her symptoms became so unbearably painful, she was forced to go to A&E for help.
“All I could think was – surely, I’m too young for that? I’m only 22,” she said.
She was later diagnosed with an extremely rare form of ovarian cancer which mostly affects young people.
“I want whoever reads this to be confident in knowing their body, to understand themselves and to have the confidence to advocate for themselves,” said the 23-year-old.
“We live in our bodies, we know them and love them, and we often know when something is deeply wrong.”