‘It gets mistaken for bloating far too often,’ MIC star Ruby emotionally admits as she reveals devastating family loss
MADE In Chelsea star Ruby Adler has revealed her family heartbreak after losing her aunt to Ovarian Cancer.
TV favourite Ruby, 27, said losing her aunt Vicky in 2018 at the age of 48 was a devastating moment that rocked her family.
Ruby, who is now an ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Action, is now on mission to help other women spot signs by speaking about her tragic loss and hopes to open up the conversation on the E4 show.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, Ruby said: “As you can imagine it was an incredibly difficult time for all of us but we’re a very close family and we all came together to be there for one another.
“It was very hard, she was taken far too soon by a disease that people don’t know enough about.
“I feel like Ovarian cancer doesn’t get the coverage or exposure that it should – it’s a very aggressive, awful disease.”
The emotional star said: “After we sadly lost my aunt to it, I wanted to do something with my platform and help raise money for the charity.
“We decided to make it our mission to create a legacy in Vicky’s name and realised very early on that we wanted to raise awareness of the warning signs to help others spot the symptoms early on.
“Even if it’s just one life we can save by speaking about our experience we’ll have made a difference.
“We still think about her every day.”
Ruby has urged women to seek medical help or advice if they are concerned about any symptoms.
She is also taking the precaution to look out for worrying signs when it comes to herself.
The star told us: “Absolutely. It sometimes takes something like this happening to someone you know, or seeing someone like Dame Deborah James speak about cancers that previously haven’t been spoken about that much, to make you look out for the signs yourself.
“A cancer like this can easily be mistaken for other things such as bloating, as it’s so hard to detect.
“Therefore I think it’s vital for us all to listen to our bodies and if there is anything unusual going on to go to our GP.
“Vicky was unwell for six years with Ovarian Cancer and I don’t believe anyone should have to go through that.”
Ruby, who has been a familiar face on the E4 hit reality show since 2020, is now looking to raise more awareness on the Chelsea-based programme and will be enlisting the help of TV pals Liv Bentley and Emily Blackwell.
The former model talent manager said: “We are in talks to plan a charity dinner to raise money for Ovarian cancer – so that’s on the way.
“I would love to speak about it there and hopefully in the future I can, it’s just about finding the right avenue.
“I’m really close with a lot of the cast and when it’s for such an important cause I’d like to get as many as the cast and crew along as possible. We all pull through for each other when we need one another, and we are like one big family.
“I’m lucky to have some really wonderful genuine friendships on there. Such as Olivia Bentley and Emily Blackwell, so I’m sure they’d be helping me with the preparation!
“I would love to create some form of community with people who have lost people or friends to the disease.
“You can all lean on one another on that sense.”
MIC fans will be delighted as telly stunner Ruby confirmed that she will be returning for another series.
She added: “I’ve got no plans on leaving anytime soon, but I don’t know how long I’ll be doing this for.
“I think it depends on life circumstances, we’ll have to see. But for now I will be back in the next series and we will see where it goes.”
What are the signs of ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancers affects the ovaries – the organs that store the eggs needed to make babies.
It mostly affects women over the age of 50 and can sometimes run in families, according to the NHS.
Symptoms of the cancer can be vague, particularly in its early stages, Cancer Research UK SAYS.
The charity advises you speak to a GP if you have the following symptoms:
- Feeling full quickly
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in your abdomen or lower part of your abdomen that doesn’t go away
- Bloating or an increase in the size of your abdomen
- Needing to wee more often
- Tiredness that is unexplained
- Weight loss that is unexplained
- Changes in your bowel habit or symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, especially if this starts after the age of 50
The NHS added that bleeding from the vagina after the menopause could be another possible symptom of ovarian cancer.