Stories of Inspiration

For much of my life, I had worried about getting ovarian cancer. There was no known gene mutation in my family, but I had a number of ovarian cysts in my twenties and then needed a hysterectomy at 44 for fibroid tumors. My husband had lost his mom to ovarian cancer in 1980, and for whatever reason, I was always…

One morning in September 2020, I woke up, and while stretching, I noticed a bulge next to the left side of my belly button. My first thought was, “Am I constipated?” I decided to drink tea to help with my digestion. A couple of days passed, and the bulge was still there. I decided to have an appointment with my…

I had experienced increasing fatigue for over a year. I blamed it on stress. I experienced severe bloating for at least six months, and I blamed it on my IBS. I began to have irregular menstrual cycles. I blamed it on pre-menopause. I began to have persistent pelvic pain, and I finally sought medical advice. We thought it was a…

March 17, 2017 – one of the many dates engraved in my mind. The day my Mom, my best friend has diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer, and the day God gave me the strength to do things for my Mom, I never imagined I would have to do. At fifteen years old, I started working in doctor’s offices, from…

I began having symptoms that something wasn’t quite right in my abdomen years ago.  I went to my doctor expressing symptoms of severe digestive issues and tiredness.  I described symptoms of abdominal discomfort, odd weight gain, and just a general sense that something was wrong with me.  I was given excuses such as, “You’re getting older. This is what happens…

My name is Sue Keely, and I am an ovarian cancer survivor.  This is how my story began. I have been involved in church music for most of my life.  I was and am currently a member of the praise team at my church and the handbell choir director and working full time for a Pittsburgh area car dealership. I…

I have an eleven-inch scar running vertically from my breastbone to my pubic bone and a 4-inch scar in my left armpit. I am a warrior- I wear these scars proudly and show them to anyone who cares to see them. Before turning 62, I was diagnosed with stage 4 high-grade ovarian cancer, which was discovered in a very uncommon…

"I'm a youth worker, and I eat like a teenager most days"...that was the go-to reasoning for my weight gain. I found out in March 2019 that my increasing pant size wasn't from too much pizza at the teen group but instead was from a large mass growing in my abdomen.  I will always remember the gynecological oncologist asking THE…

I had never heard of ovarian cancer. Breast cancer, yes; lung cancer, yes; pancreatic cancer, yes. Prostate cancer is well documented on my dad's side of the family, but OVARIAN cancer? I never heard of it, never knew anyone who had it. A common question is, "What were your symptoms?" I usually giggle and tell them that the first concerning…

In 2015, I was planning a wedding to begin a new chapter of my life. Not only was I preoccupied with planning a ceremony, but being a mother of two small girls and working full time, your symptoms take a back seat. I was tired, very tired, like lying on a dirty floor, I don't care, kind of tired. I…