A CHELMSFORD mum is highlighting the symptoms of ovarian cancer... after she spent months thinking she was gluten intolerant.

Mum-of-three Sara Foster has decided to tell her story as part of ovarian cancer awareness month.

Sara – who was diagnosed in July 2017, aged 47, after months of unexplained bloating – is highlighting how women of any age need to be vigilant for signs of the disease often associated with those aged 50-plus.

She has been chosen as one of 13 women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer to take part in the Touch of Teal fashion show in London this month for the leading support charity Ovacome.

Taking to the catwalk is massively out of Sara’s comfort zone, but she feels passionate about the cause.

For like many women Sara did not know the symptoms of the disease herself and it took a few months of bloating and extreme tiredness for her to eventually seek medical help.

She had thought that she might have a gluten intolerance and had tried cutting out bread for three months first. After this made no difference, she wondered if she had irritable bowel syndrome.

“Cancer was not on my radar at all, with no history of the disease in my family,” said Sara.

“I just thought I was bloated from eating too much bread.”

But she became increasingly alarmed in the final five weeks before visiting her doctor’s surgery when the bloating became persistent and she was overwhelmed with tiredness.

“It was a different type of immense tiredness than I’d ever had before,” she added.

“If I sat down my eyes would shut and I would fall asleep for a good hour and then still be able to sleep like log at night.”

If bloating lasts for more than two weeks then it should be checked.

Ovacome has come up with an easy to remember B.E.A.T. acronym of the main symptoms: B is for bloating that is persistent and does not come and go; E is for eating difficulties and feeling fuller quicker; A is for abdominal or pelvic pain you feel most days and T is for toilet changes.

Sara went through surgery and six rounds of chemotherapy. Since finishing chemo in January 2018, she has had no evidence of disease.

She gave up her job to give her time to recover from the treatment which launched her into the menopause and caused her to lose her long red hair.

However, she believes that the fashion show will give her a great confidence boost.