SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: JENNY Barter is a picture of health.

But her radiance belies the tragedy that struck just a few years ago when the retired schoolteacher was diagnosed with ovarian cancer known as the silent killer.

As a result, Jenny underwent the trauma of a full hysterectomy, anomentectomy and several months of painful chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Now she stands as a beacon of hope for other sufferers as she tells the story of how she took on the disease, and beat it.

Jenny has been clear of cancer for the last seven years and returns to Swindon's Great western Hospital for checkups every few months.

Although she didn't receive Macmillan care, Jenny is backing the appeal so others can continue to receive support throughout their illness.

"The last seven years have been the best of my life in a way," she said. "It is such an awful disease. It's impossible to express how I felt when I was told what it was.

"I remember thinking that I had had a wonderful life and a loving family. The only thing I wouldn't ever have was grandchildren.

"I now have four. Little Sophie was born last July and they are my focus now."

Jenny had the hysterectomy in October 1995, just two weeks after her initial appointment with the doctor and before she knew she had cancer.

"Maybe in the back of my mind I knew. I didn't really want to find out," she said.

"After the operation the doctor asked me to come back and bring my husband, Colin, with me. I then thought it wasn't good news."

Jenny's cancer had been detected at stage two in ovarian cancer there are four stages following an unrelated visit to her doctor.

The early detection meant the cancer was confined to her pelvis. The unspecific nature of the symptoms means that usual discovery isn't until the latter stages, when the cancer has had a chance to spread.

"I put my fatigue and bloated stomach down to my age and the fact that I was on HRT," Jenny said.

"I was still working so thought the tiredness I felt was due to that. It was only afterwards when I knew more about it that I started to make the links."

One of the symptoms doctor picked up on along with Jenny's swollen stomach was her increasing need to get up in the middle of the night to urinate.

"I was very lucky it was caught so early," Jenny said. "I like to believe that it is never too late though. We do hear amazing stories of people who have beaten it at stage four so women should never give up hope.

"I am so thankful that I have had such love and support from my family and friends.

"The doctors warn you early on that people react differently to the news not just the sufferers themselves but also the people around you.

"The radiotherapy was very debilitating but what used to upset me more was seeing elderly people or single mothers who have to go through it alone.

"After the course of treatment I had expected to feel brilliant.

"You are quite cosseted throughout but at the end I felt vulnerable. It would have been nice to have Macmillan help then because they do a marvellous job. I was lucky though because I received a lot of support from my family.

"For others who don't have their family around them, or even if they do, Macmillan nurses offer wonderful support."

Jenny took courage from Ovacome, a UK-wide support group that helps sufferers of ovarian cancer and their friends and family.

Jenny is one of the original members of Ovacome and became involved after reading a magazine article by the founder, Sarah Dickinson, who died of the disease in 1997.

Along with her familiar support, which includes children David, 35, Sally, 34, and Mark, 32, Jenny says her strong Christian faith helped to get her through it.

She is also heavily involved with the Church Mothers' Union, is an Ovacome FoneFriend and a dedicated grandmother.

"My life has changed and I have changed as a person. I don't get stressed and my values have altered. I now realise what's important in life."

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