A police officer is sharing his family’s heartbreaking story after his wife, described as “fit and healthy,” died from ovarian cancer at just 46 years old.
Matt Miles lost his wife Katy Miles in September 2024 after an eight-year battle with the disease, which began with a symptom that initially seemed minor.
Katy first noticed something unusual during a CrossFit class in 2016, when she suddenly lost bladder control. At the time, it was easy to dismiss it as a possible side effect of exercise strain.
After visiting her GP, she was referred for a scan, which revealed an abnormality initially thought to be an ovarian cyst. She was told at the time that it did not appear to be cancer, which briefly eased concerns.
Weeks later, further testing changed everything. Matt Miles recalled the moment they were given the diagnosis, describing how his wife broke down in tears after hearing the word cancer.
“I remember Katy had a yellow jumper on… and her legs just buckled,” he said, describing the emotional moment they left the consultation room.
Doctors later confirmed she had low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, a rare and slow-growing form of ovarian cancer. Despite its slower progression, the disease had already begun spreading.
Katy underwent multiple surgeries, including bowel resection and later an extensive operation that revealed cancer affecting several organs. She also had a hysterectomy and stoma fitted as part of her treatment.
“She was finding grains of sand and removing each one,” Miles said, describing how doctors explained the spread of the disease during surgery.
After chemotherapy and periods of improvement, Katy briefly returned to the gym and attempted to regain normal life. However, follow-up scans later showed the cancer had returned.
By 2024, the disease had spread further, including to her bones and skin. Doctors gave her an estimated prognosis of around one year as treatment options became more limited.
In her final months, she required additional medical support, including a nephrostomy procedure, which her husband described as one of the most painful parts of her journey.
As her condition worsened, Katy eventually made the difficult decision to stop further aggressive treatment. “I can’t do it anymore. It’s too much,” she told her family.
She passed away on 24 September 2024, with her husband and sister by her side during her final weeks.
Following her death, Matt Miles began raising awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms, particularly subtle signs that can be easily overlooked in active, otherwise healthy women.
He has since launched fundraising challenges in her memory, tied to her police collar number 1481, raising money for the charity that supported her during treatment.
Miles says his goal is to honor her memory while helping others recognize early warning signs sooner, hoping it may save lives in the future.
