"The thing is with ovarian cancer is that the symptoms don't come until later on, until you're further down the track," Ms Hayes said. "I felt that I had a urine infection so I was put on antibiotics but the pain just got worse.

"I started to feel the pain within the bowel, the stomach, fatigue - all that sort of thing."

Ms Hayes, now 55, had surgery to remove the lump and then went through several rounds of chemotherapy.

During her treatment, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre encouraged Ms Hayes to draw up her family tree to see if there was a family history of cancer.

She found out there were several women in her family who had died from breast cancer.

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Ms Hayes was tested for the BRCA1 gene, an inherited gene mutation which increases the likelihood of a woman developing ovarian or breast cancer.

Ms Hayes was found to have the gene and chose to have a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of developing breast cancer in the future.

"I was just lucky to have the opportunity to find out that I had the BRCA1 gene and that I was at a really high risk of getting breast cancer," Ms Hayes said.

But in early 2016 when she was in the process of having the breast reconstruction surgery, she found another lump. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer again.

Ms Hayes went through the surgery and chemotherapy process all over again and has been on a trial treatment called Lynparza for the past two years.

The 16 tablets a day have been part of an active maintenance approach.

"The trouble is with ovarian cancer is that sometimes it won't start in the ovaries," she said. "It could pop up anywhere.

"My specialist said my ovarian cancer will come back but they're uncertain about when. It's just an unknown factor."

This Sunday, Ms Hayes will be competing with her family in the eleventh-annual Bendigo Mother's Day Classic. The event raises awareness and funds for breast cancer research.

Ms Hayes, who will be running in the four kilometre event with her daughter, said the purpose of the fun run was simple.

"Breast cancer just affects the whole family," Ms Hayes said. "Everyone knows someone who has had it.

"My main thing is research, awareness and knowledge. If you think that you don't feel right or that something is wrong, don't just shove it off.

"Go to a GP and if you're not quite sure, get a second opinion. If you don't look after yourself, you're not going to be there for your family."

Ms Hayes said people interested in learning more about the Bendigo Mother's Day Classic can do so at www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/events/event-map/bendigo/

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