Ovacome Patrons

Lady Sewell MBE

Lady Sewell MBE was appointed as an Ovacome Patron on 7 September 2024.

Known throughout the ovarian cancer community for her commitment to raising awareness of the disease, fundraising for ovarian cancer charities and bringing people with an ovarian cancer diagnosis together, Adele was awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Years Honours list for her charitable services to ovarian cancer.

The announcement of Adele’s appointment took place at the 15th edition of the Touch of Teal event, which to that point, had raised more than £350,000 for Ovacome. She has also been a prolific supporter of the charity’s campaigns to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, acting as a passionate spokesperson while speaking about her own experiences and advocating for others affected by ovarian cancer.

On appointment, Adele said she was surprised and delighted to be asked, and even likened the feeling to that of hearing of her MBE in 2023.

As an Ovacome Patron, Adele will support the charity to ensure that in the future everyone is screened for the disease effectively and treated at the earliest opportunity, is given a choice of effective treatments and are well supported throughout their diagnosis, treatment and beyond.

Adele was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 when she was 35 years old. Six years later, she noticed a pain in her lower back which developed into what was described by a specialist as ‘classic sciatica’. At the time, she was advised to start Pilates and stop any high-impact exercise. Towards the end of 2006, she started to have vaginal discharge and needed to urinate more frequently. Although tests came back clear, Adele requested an extra cervical screening test, assuming that this would test for all gynaecological cancers.

In June 2007 while on holiday in Jamaica, she noticed she was a bit constipated but again dismissed that as a change in routine being away from home. Over the summer, more symptoms appeared – a dull pain, soreness in her abdomen and bloating. Visits to the doctors focused only on the constipation and it wasn’t until an emergency appointment because of considerable pain and discomfort that a subsequent ultrasound showed cysts.

A week later Adele’s CA125 test came back with a result of over 2,000 (below 35 being considered ‘normal’), in September 2007 a diagnosis of stage 3C high-grade serous ovarian cancer was confirmed.
Three rounds of chemotherapy, surgery and a further three rounds of chemotherapy followed, with the sciatica-like pain disappearing following surgery.

In January 2008, Adele learned she had the BRCA2 gene mutation. Further tests showed that three of her four siblings and three out of her four nieces also carry the mutation, although her daughter does not.
After a recurrence in January 2010, Adele was told that she could expect it to now keep coming back, given that it had returned within two years, each time more quickly than before. But, in fact, she experienced an eight-year long remission.

It was during this time that Adele began fundraising for Ovacome, the first of what would become today’s Touch of Teal event starting as a fundraising tea for 45 guests at the May Fair Hotel. The following year, aided by sponsorship from her employer, the event was much more ambitious, a bigger event with some extra added sparkle. And so, the Champagne Afternoon Tea and Fashion show was born, suggested by Adele’s daughter. At the 2012 event all models taking part had experienced ovarian cancer.

A scan in early August 2018 indicated a nodule which originally was diagnosed as on the surface of her liver. An operation in October 2018 was unsuccessful and the hospital did not recommend any further surgery due to the risk of bleeding and scar tissue. After speaking with Ovacome’s chair, Adele decided to ask for a second opinion which led to a follow-up operation. This time, the tumour - which turned out to be on the surface of Adele’s diaphragm rather than liver, was removed successfully and a course of chemotherapy followed.

We look forward to working together with Adele in the future.