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When Karen’s sister was just 11 years old, doctors discovered that her ovaries were covered in cysts.

Normally, the gland releases hormones that travel down to the womb and ovaries to control the monthly menstrual cycle and the release of an egg, which makes pregnancy possible.

"I'm dumbfounded by the fact the organisation that represents the clinicians who are going to be removing ovaries doesn't feel it needs either information for the public or guidance for clinicians," she said.

Most ovarian cancer starts in the fallopian tubes, so by the time it gets to the ovaries, it may have already spread elsewhere too.

Originally, doctors suspected that she had developed pelvic inflammatory disease as a result of having a contraceptive coil fitted but a further scan revealed a cyst on her ovaries, too.