Stories of Inspiration

In March of 2015, I began to feel bloated all of the time, and my abdomen seemed to be experiencing constant pressure. I knew something wasn't right. But as a single mom of three very busy and active young ones, I didn't have time to take care of myself. Two months later, I couldn't take it any longer. I went…

My cancer diagnosis was a very fortunate accident. I was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis in 2010. My gynecologist referred me to a reproductive endocrinologist (RE), knowing that conceiving would be difficult for me. That RE recommended surgery to remove a uterine fibroid and ovarian cysts when I was ready to try to conceive. I got married and made an…

In partnership with the Foundation for Women's Cancer, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition provided funding for two Young Investigator Research Grants, which accelerate the research of young investigators to promote the long-term success of the gynecologic oncology field.  Two awards were granted to young investigators who focused on areas of research that align closely with our mission, to save lives…

Father of an ovarian cancer survivor and Great Lakes NOCC volunteer Michael Burns shared his experience supporting his young daughter Kirsten in his original blog post. Michael's post resonated with many in the TEAL community, so we are excited to catch up with him and hear more about how Kirsten and the entire Burns family are doing.  National Ovarian Cancer…

Team TEAL athlete, NOCC Long Island member, and passionate advocate Julie shared her ovarian cancer journey with us in her original blog post in 2020. The NOCC was excited to catch up with Julie for our 30 Years of TEAL Stories of Inspiration Spotlight and hear about another goal she has accomplished - completing the Empire State Ride for Team…

As a five-time ovarian cancer survivor and active member of the San Antonio NOCC community, Maria Gonzales and her story of inspiration have resonated with so many. In August of 2020, she shared her experience as a long-time survivor and her passion for supporting survivors along the way. We caught up with Maria to see how she has been since…

You don’t forget that time in your life when your world shifts, stands still, and you experience emotions and feelings that words could never fully capture. You are waiting, wondering, healing, fighting, exhausted, and alone. Your mind becomes imprisoned with doubt, decisions, and what-ifs. Your body changes, you don’t recognize yourself in the mirror, you feel incredibly different. You worry….about…

As CEO, I am often asked, “How did you become involved with NOCC, and do you have a personal connection with ovarian cancer?”  Naturally, one would assume that if you dedicate your days to advocating for a particular cause, you must have a personal tie. For me, my passion for this line of work began over 20 years ago when…

I am a mother to 3 wonderful kids and a wife to a hardworking husband. At the time of my diagnosis, I was working from home doing Graphic Design & Photography and being a stay home mom. I loved to exercise, take my kids to the park, and enjoy the outdoors as much as possible. As my neighbor would put…

My exposure to cervical cancer began in 1994, at age 24, when I had my annual gynecological appointment, and my pap came back abnormal. My doctor called to have me come back into the office for a meeting. She told me I had pre-cancer cells, and I had two options; I could have a cone procedure done or a less…