Stacey Dooley has been ‘heartbroken’ following the death of Jemma McGowan, who appeared on her show Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over.
The mom of three passed away from a battle with a rare ovary shape just 29-year-old cancer earlier this week, after meeting Stacey while filming the episode, called Mum Fighting The Clock, in February, before the show aired on the W Network in April.
Stacey, 36, took to her Instagram on Thursday to pay a heartfelt tribute, just hours after opening up about her late friend in a retrospective episode of Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, in which she reflected on past episodes with her Kevin Clifton couple.
Along with a sweet selfie with Jemma, Stacey wrote: “Just heartbreaking, Jemma was a joy to work with and we continue our relationship as friends.” I’m thinking of hers (her husband) Clive and her beautiful babies.’
“Coincidentally, our film airs tonight where we reflect on the time we spent with Jemma. She knew that she would be leaving in August and she was anxious to know everything. She flies high honey.
Heartbroken: Stacey Dooley (L) left ‘heartbroken’ following the death of Jemma McGowan (R), who appeared on her show Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over
Tribute: Stacey, 36, became close with Jemma after their first meeting and took to her Instagram on Thursday with a heartfelt tribute
Jemma, from Northern Ireland, was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2016 when she was six weeks pregnant with her second child.
After the surgery, the doctors told him that he would not return. But tragically, she contracted the disease again in January 2021. Jemma found a lump on her body during her pregnancy before being told she had stage 4 ovarian cancer.
She wrote on Instagram: ‘I had really bad pain on my left side. I went to the GP and he thought I was having an ectopic pregnancy and sent me straight to the ER.
“They told me that the baby was fine, but that I needed minimally invasive surgery to remove a fibroid on my ovary when I was 17 weeks pregnant.
“They found out it was cancer, but they said it was stage 1 low grade, so I put it behind me and went on with my life.”
She experienced no further symptoms for the next four years, but when she was 36 weeks pregnant with her third child, she discovered a lump in January 2021.
After disclosing her concerns to a midwife, she was expedited for an MRI and admitted to hospital to receive steroids to prepare her baby for a planned early C-section, which took place weeks later.
Just 24 hours after giving birth, Jemma was told her cancer had returned, this time with a tumor on her left lung and multiple tumors on her pelvic and pubic bones.
RIP: The mother of three has passed away aged 29 after appearing on the star’s W show while battling a very rare form of ovarian cancer.
She said: ‘The words that stood out to me were: incurable, aggressive and acting unusual. I started chemotherapy when Betty was only two weeks old, but she was not ready to give up and tell my babies that I am going to die…
I knew then that I was going to fight this.
Jemma received three rounds of two different types of chemotherapy in Belfast, which led to side effects including hair loss and vomiting.
In May 2021, oncologists discovered three new tumors growing in his body, explaining that since the chemotherapy was not working, they would not be able to continue his treatment, giving him three to 15 months to live.
Shock: Jemma had three rounds of two different types of chemotherapy in Belfast, leading to side effects including hair loss and vomiting
She said: ‘The chemotherapy made me very sick. It almost killed me twice. And my tumors were growing when the doctors said it was unethical to continue…
“They eventually offered five rounds of radiation therapy for pain control, but side effects included not having sex again, needing a bladder bag, a bile bag, and major surgery.”
‘Why would I go through five rounds for pain relief when my pain is usually not that bad? Besides, I’m not going to give up my sex life, I’ve given up everything else. I need something!
“I fought for high-dose radiotherapy and eventually won 20 rounds. I want to see my children grow up. I’m not asking to be a grandmother. I just want to be a mom. I don’t want forever, I just want more time, so why not try everything?
WHY OVARIAN CANCER IS CALLED A ‘SILENT KILLER’
About 80 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease.
At the time of diagnosis, 60 percent of ovarian cancers will have already spread to other parts of the body, reducing the five-year survival rate from 90 percent at the earliest stage to 30 percent.
It is diagnosed so late because of its location in the pelvis, according to Dr. Ronny Drapkin, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania who has been studying the disease for more than two decades.
“The pelvis is like a bowl, so a tumor there can get quite large before it’s really noticeable,” Dr Drapkin told MailOnline.
The first symptoms that arise with ovarian cancer are gastrointestinal because the tumors can start to push up.
When a patient complains of gastrointestinal discomfort, doctors are more likely to focus on dietary change and other causes rather than suggest ovarian cancer screening.
Dr. Drapkin said it’s usually not until after a patient has persistent GI symptoms that they receive a screening test that reveals cancer.
“Ovarian cancer is often said to be a silent killer because it doesn’t have early symptoms, when in fact it does, they are very general and can be caused by other things,” he said.
‘One of the things I tell women is that no one knows your body as well as you do. If you feel that something is not right, it is likely that something is not right.’
She revealed that she was frequently trolled for looking too healthy and was even accused by vile keyboard warriors of faking her cancer.
Jemma said: ‘I get at least one nasty comment a week on social media. I am regularly told that I am faking cancer. And there’s someone else who keeps telling me I don’t have terminal cancer because I look too good to be sick…
“I don’t really get mad or let it get to me because what they say isn’t true. Strangers don’t know what they are talking about. I feel like answering ‘what more proof do you want? Do you want my blood? If I could give it to you, I would!
Why would I go through five rounds for pain relief when my pain is usually not that bad? Besides, I’m not going to give up my sex life, I’ve given up everything else. I need something!
“I fought for high-dose radiotherapy and eventually won 20 rounds. I want to see my children grow up. I’m not asking to be a grandmother. I just want to be a mom. I don’t want forever, I just want more time, so why not try everything?
Heartbreaking: In May 2021, oncologists discovered three new tumors growing in her body, explaining that because the chemotherapy wasn’t working, they couldn’t continue her treatment, giving her three to 15 months to live.
Another announcement on social media revealed that a Thanksgiving Service for Jemma with family and friends will be held on Sunday.
The notice read: ‘The death has taken place of Jemma Ingrid McGowan, at her home in Omagh, in the warm embrace of her loving family. Formerly of Stewartstown. December 16, 1993 – August 3, 2023.
‘A beloved daughter of John Howie (Debbie) and Tracy Megaw (David).
‘Loving wife and soul mate to Clive, precious and loving mother to Sadie, Louis and Betty, loving sister to Amy, Oliver, Anna, Matthew, stepsister to Rachel and Ruth.
A much-loved daughter-in-law to Walter and Maxine, beloved sister-in-law to Karl (Carrie), Darren (Jill) and Lloyd (Aimee).
‘Friends welcome to call home late on Friday and Saturday between 12 noon and 8 pm Today and Sunday the family home will be strictly private.
A service of thanksgiving for Jemma’s life will be held at Cappagh Parish Church on Sunday at 2:00pm, followed by burial in the adjoining churchyard.
“Please take the time to share your condolences/remembrances for Jemma, in the condolence book below, which will be kept safe for Jemma’s children to read in the future.
These messages will help Sadie, Louis and Betty remember how special Jemma was to everyone. Family flowers only, please.
Poor health: After undergoing surgery, doctors told him that he would not return, however, sadly, he suffered from the disease again in January 2021.
