Raising awareness is incredibly important to me because, prior to my diagnosis, I didn’t know the symptoms of ovarian cancer or even what ovarian cancer was. I was 24 years old when I was told I had Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer. For over a year, I was misdiagnosed and eventually went into the ER for stomach pain. It was there that I discovered I had a 12-pound tumor. Right after surgery, I started 31 rounds of chemotherapy and later had two more surgeries.
Looking back, there were definitely signs and symptoms present. If I had known what the symptoms and signs were, I would have been able to detect that something was wrong. I had almost every single symptom of ovarian cancer.
I don’t have any history of hereditary cancer in my family, whether it be breast, colorectal, or any other type. NOCC was my first resource that helped me not only learn more about ovarian cancer but also provided an amazing community for me to meet other ovarian cancer fighters and share my story.
If I could give one piece of advice to the general public about the importance of knowing the risks, signs, and symptoms of ovarian cancer, it would be to familiarize yourself with the symptoms and signs. Listen to your body, and don’t be afraid to ask your doctor if you feel like something is wrong.
What I want people to know about ovarian cancer is that it can hit anyone at any age. I was diagnosed at a very young age and didn’t know anything about it until it was too late. To anyone who has been newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer, my advice is never to give up and know that you’re not fighting alone. There’s an ovarian cancer community and resources to support your journey.
