At the surgery, Mac won't reveal Alex or Susan's records to each other and urges them to talk - they refuse and leave. That evening, Mac stops in at the Bennetts' and eventually gets them to talk. Susan tells Alex about her cancer and hysterectomy . Alex, although disappointed, is glad her mum told her now sympathising with what she went through. Concerned, Susan agrees to go to the hospital with Alex for further treatment.
Many useful facts are to be found here about all women's cancers.
A smear test is not a cancer test, but it is an early warning test, which shows if there are any changes in cells from the neck of the womb - they might become cancerous if not followed up and treated. All women who have had sexual intercourse should have a smear test. Some ovarian cancers are linked to the genes which cause breast cancer. So if breast cancer runs in the family you may be at increased risk of cancer of the ovaries. There are screening programmes for breast and cervical cancer - but none yet for ovarian cancer.