A "loving" mother died from ovarian cancer after being told her symptoms were caused by perimenopause, her husband has revealed. Kelly Hashemi, 41, began experiencing mid-cycle bleeding, bloating and anxiety in her late thirties and repeatedly sought medical help, but it was only after a private scan that she learned she had stage three ovarian cancer.
The primary school teacher underwent two major operations in her fight against the disease, but died in July last year. Her husband Arya, 42, is now taking part in this month's Great North Run to honour her memory and raise funds for St Bede's Hospice in Gateshead, where Kelly spent her final months. His fundraiser has already attracted more than £5,500 in donations.
Diagnosis came late after symptoms were dismissed
Kelly received her ovarian cancer diagnosis in July 2022 following a privately-funded scan. Arya, a practising lawyer, recalled: "Things didn't feel right. She kept saying this is something else. When she received her diagnosis the doctor said 'We have caught this at a late stage, you are going to die from this'."
He added: "It was something that she never came to terms with. A simple blood test or simple scans would have picked this up earlier and there was a refusal to do that."
Kelly underwent extensive surgery and spent a fortnight in intensive care, followed by several months of rehabilitation before beginning chemotherapy. Arya said: "The surgery was enormous. They operated from her throat to the top of her pubic bone. She had to have a full hysterectomy and part of her liver, bladder and diaphragm removed. It was really, really painful rehabilitation. It was a really bleak time."
Cancer returned and Kelly spent final months in hospice
In September 2024, Kelly was asked to work in early years at Newcastle High School for Girls, where she spent roughly seven weeks before a scan confirmed her cancer had returned. She was told that with further surgery she could have a year to live and without it she would have a few months.
"She decided to have the surgery again to have some more time with Tabitha and she had that surgery early November," Arya recalled. "She lost her bowel and it made no difference, the cancer just kept growing."
Kelly was admitted to St Bede's Hospice, based within the Queen Elizabeth Hospital grounds. After spending three months receiving care there, she died in July 2025.
Husband prepares for emotional Great North Run
Arya, who now lives in Fenham, Newcastle, with his 13-year-old daughter Tabitha, explained: "Her biggest worry was not seeing her daughter grow. Kelly was super prepared and she wrote me lists of things I must do."
On September 13, Arya will participate in the Great North Run as a tribute to his late wife. His online fundraising campaign for the hospice has already raised more than £5,500. Arya said: "She had such fear about going into the hospice and losing her dignity and independence. Every single one of their team went over and above, showering her with love, and all of her fears just disappeared."
He added: "I have stuck religiously to my training plan. I'm scared but I'm very excited about doing it. I know it's going to be really emotional. It was something Kelly did. She always talked about it as being one of the greatest things she'd ever done. It's a really nice tribute to Kelly."
Arya has urged anybody who is concerned about their health to push for help. He said: "I think the only person who really knows if something is wrong if yourself. If something feels wrong fight your corner. No one is going to advocate for you, you have to advocate for yourself."
