A mum feels she was “fobbed” off with laxatives before being diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer.

Now in remission, Louise Hutchins, 44, is urging women to get themselves checked for the disease and to be aware of the symptoms, following her own diagnosis in the autumn.

The Folkestone care home support worker says: “You fob the symptoms off and think it is nothing to worry about and because I didn't know the symptoms and had never heard of it, that’s exactly what I did.

“I thought I was going in with a ruptured or blocked bowel, cancer didn’t cross my mind at all.”

Mrs Hutchins visited a local walk-in centre in August after suffering from bloating, heartburn and constipation. Beforehand, she had tried for two weeks unsuccessfully to get a GP appointment, but the online form never worked.

After explaining her pains, a nurse felt Mrs Hutchins’ stomach and then gave her laxatives.

But a week on she didn’t feel better, and sitting down was even becoming painful.

The second time she was seen at the centre, Mrs Hutchins was told straight away by a nurse that she needed to go to A&E, after lifting up her shirt.

At hospital, scans revealed she had fluid in her abdomen, which can build up due to cancer irritating the lining.

In October, 1.7 litres of liquid was drained, and after that Mrs Hutchins was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer.

Mrs Hutchins, who has a 24-year-old son and a 15-year-old stepdaughter, says she was prepared for the diagnosis after learning about the fluid build-up.

She goes on: “I was more worried about the family but I thought, it is what it is, one in two people get it and I rather it was me going through it.

“I don’t think I’d cope with watching someone else go through it. I can’t even imagine how that must feel.

“It was a big worry for me whether my family would be okay and luckily after a genetic test, they are all alright.”

After several sessions of chemotherapy, Ms Hutchins is in remission and awaiting a hysterectomy.

She says: “I was told I had an 80% chance of it coming back and if I hadn’t gone to the walk-in centre that day then there’s a chance it could be stage four by now.”

Work and her family have got Mrs Hutchins through the illness.

“We kind of take it with a bit of humour which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s how we’ve dealt with it,” she explains.

“I don’t feel bitter because it shouldn’t happen to anyone - why should anyone have to go through it? I’m no exception, there’s nothing about me that stands above anyone else.

“I took each day as it came and was thankful that I was one of the lucky ones who was able to leave the house and not have as many of the symptoms as some people.”

After her diagnosis, Mrs Hutchins met other women online with ovarian cancer who were misdiagnosed at first.

Speaking during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, she says: “There are so many women that are my age with it and a lot of the time doctors are sending them away saying the symptoms are to do with the menopause.

“Keep pushing if you don't feel right because you are fighting for your life – don’t get fobbed off...”

“These women knew deep down that something wasn’t right and a lot of them ended up getting diagnosed only by going to A&E. That’s why it gets diagnosed at such a late stage.”

Mrs Hutchins has since started a Facebook page where she shares updates on her health and raises awareness of the disease.

She says: “I want people to be able to ask me questions because there could be people out there who have these symptoms.

“It’s something that’s not out there enough and it can creep up out of nowhere.

“Keep pushing if you don't feel right because you are fighting for your life – don’t get fobbed off.”

According to Target Ovarian Cancer, signs of the cancer continue to be put down to other conditions such as the menopause or IBS.

Helen Dickens, Deputy Chief Executive at Target Ovarian Cancer, says: “Although progress has been made over the years, we need to see it accelerated. A woman diagnosed at the earliest possible opportunity has a better chance of surviving this devastating disease.”

According to the NHS, symptoms for ovarian cancer include frequently having a swollen tummy, no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating, an urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often and pain in your tummy or the pelvis.

Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea, back pain, feeling tired all the time and losing weight without trying.

Mrs Hutchins is also raising money for charity Ovarian Cancer Action – donations can be made here.