A mother with ovarian cancer is urging women to be on their guard against the silent killer.

Debbie Kuca, 37, of Bridus Mead, Blewbury, near Didcot, had symptoms for three years before doctors diagnosed the disease, which had already spread to other parts of her body.

Despite successful treatment, she was told this week that the cancer has returned, leaving her future uncertain.

Ms Kuca said she wants to bring attention to the illness and raise money for research during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

She said: "There's no routine screening for this disease, but it can be diagnosed with a simple blood test and ultrasound scan.

"It took about three years to diagnose, and as a result my prognosis is very poor.

"Had it been found earlier, or had I been aware of this condition, I may have had a better chance.

"Most GPs will only deal with one patient with it in their career, so I'm not at all bitter, but I do feel honour-bound to spread the word.

"I still feel quite well and determined I won't go until I'm ready."

Ovarian cancer is diagnosed in 7,000 UK women every year, and 75 per cent die.

If caught early, patients have a 95 per cent chance of survival, but that diminishes to 10 per cent in later stages, when women are more likely to die if it returns after treatment.

Former catering manager Ms Kuca has three children, Kristina Leyshon, 15, Jonathan Leyshon, 11, and 18-month-old Riley Garratt.

She said although ovarian cancer was known as the silent killer, research showed most women had classic symptoms from the beginning.

But the fatigue, abdominal swelling, urgency in going to the toilet, changes in bowel movement, abdominal pain, and indigestion, were often confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), leaving the cancer to progress undetected.

Ms Kuca said: "I had all the classic symptoms, but ignored things until the stage when I was losing a lot of blood, and was diagnosed with IBS.

"While I was pregnant with Riley, hospital staff noticed what they thought were ovarian cysts during scans, and said they would treat them after he was born. It wasn't until six months after he was born that the cancer was finally diagnosed."

Doctors at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, discovered Ms Kuca's cancer had spread to her bowel lining and liver, and she had a hysterectomy, followed by six months of radiotherapy at the neighbouring Churchill Hospital.

Last August, she was told she was in remission.

Despite news that the tumour is back, she is fighting to raise awareness by holding a table top sale and toddler lunch to boost funds for Cancer Research UK and Wellbeing of Women.

She said: "All the people I've met with ovarian cancer seem to have this bravado, it's the only way you can deal with it, because it's like a ticking time bomb.

"We're just on a wing and a prayer, hoping it won't come back.

"People with other cancers have the chance to fight their disease with new treatments, but we don't have that because there hasn't been a breakthrough in ovarian cancer for 25 years. The only option you have with ovarian cancer is to get to the doctor as soon as possible and have it diagnosed."

Blewbury Toddlers lunch is being held on Wednesday, March 16, at 1-2pm, and costs £5 for mothers.

A tabletop sale at Blewbury Village Hall is being held on Saturday, March 19, at 11am-3pm.