Glasgow-based content creator Danielle Quinn has died aged 41 after living with a rare form of ovarian cancer. Her partner, Ryan Gardiner, paid tribute after her death following hospice care.
Her illness
Quinn was initially told she had irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. She was later diagnosed with Stage 3 low-grade serous carcinoma, a rare form of ovarian cancer, in December 2022.
She underwent a seven-hour operation in which 10 organs were removed. She initially chose hormone therapy, and her cancer returned in October 2024.
Quinn shared her cancer journey publicly to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and the difficulty of recognising its early symptoms.
What readers should know
Women experiencing persistent digestive issues should speak to a GP or another qualified health professional rather than assuming the symptoms are IBS. Persistent bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain, difficulty eating and changes in toilet habits can have many causes, and a clinician will decide whether examinations or tests are appropriate.
A cervical smear test does not detect ovarian cancer. NHS information explains that ovarian cancer symptoms can be vague and that anyone concerned about persistent symptoms should contact a GP.
Low-grade serous carcinoma differs from high-grade ovarian cancer, and treatment decisions depend on the individual case. General claims about chemotherapy resistance, social-media platforms, fundraising plans or future research grants were not sufficiently sourced and have been removed.