This site is a tribute to Elaine Hardiker and an opportunity to share her story and raise awareness. 

Our Mum, Elaine was admitted to hospital on Tuesday 7th November 2017.  She had been back and forth to the doctors for about 6 weeks prior to this.  The doctors had given her different types of laxatives to help with the constipation and bloated stomach, the CA-125 blood test was done.   The results of this test came back clear! This then made the Doctors think it was not ovarian cancer!  Our mum was referred for a CT scan, but this was not until 27th November. 

On the 9th November following an urgent CT scan, my mum was told there was a very large mass in her stomach and they thought this was ovarian cancer.  My mum was given a biopsy and sent home to wait for an oncologist appointment.  I rang the hospital every day to chase this appointment,  the appointment was for three weeks later.  Before she could make that appointment I had to admit Mum to hospital with severe pressure and swelling in her stomach, she had to stay on a medical assessment unit for days until a bed was free at the cancer ward in the main hospital.   Mum was in so much pain.  

Eventually, having been transferred at midnight, the oncologist came to see her the following day and eventually explain the results of the biopsy.  This is when we were told it was ovarian carsinosarcoma.  Another CT scan was needed and to look to see if surgery could be done as chemo doesn’t have much effect on this type of cancer.

So it was the Tuesday my mum had her CT scan, and we were told the surgical oncologist would meet us at 1.00pm that Friday.  Luckily, I had turned up really early to give my mum a shower that day, only to walk behind the curtain and find the oncologist was already there.  At that point we were told there was nothing they could do for my mum and having chemo would only give her extra weeks!  The results of the CT scan show the tumour had doubled in size from the previous scan 4 weeks earlier. Mum was given 4 weeks to live without treatment, just like that. 

Our beautiful mum passed away on 1st January 2018 at home surrounded by her family. 

We wanted to tell our Mums story to raise awareness of these symptoms and for people to know this blood test is not accurate.  Know your body and be firm with the Doctors to get referred.  

Please don’t forget our mum x

Elaine Mathieson Hardiker  14/06/57 - 01/01/2018   

To Mum, Grandma and Elaine, 

I hope you read this wherever you may be and know that the courage, strength and selflessness you showed during your short fight has made us so proud.  I know how scared you were, but all you thought about was all of us.  

Getting used to life without you is taking a little bit of our hearts away everyday.  We miss you more and more every day.  Your laugh, your humour, your kindness and all the love you gave us all. 

Love you forever and always xxxxxxxx

Jimmy, Ashley, Kerry, Nicole and Logan 

Xxxxxxxxxx