My caregiver journey began in December 2020 when my Mom was released from the hospital in Little Rock, AR. I was there to pick her up and stopped briefly by her house, packed up some items, and then onto my home in Memphis, TN. While healing from an ongoing bout with pneumonia, Mom discovered a lump on her right chest…

“Oh yeah, your wife has cancer and will need chemotherapy. Now I’ve got to get back in there and finish.” As the surgeon turned and walked away, my world crumbled. Everything slowed down and felt muted. I stumbled back to my seat in the hospital waiting room. A friend hugged me, and we sat in shock. My mother-in-law feverishly texted…

My wife Jenny was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January 2020 after a post-hysterectomy biopsy. She had chosen the hysterectomy out of an abundance of caution due to her family history. Jenny's gynecological oncologist prescribed a six-month course of chemotherapy. At this time, I was in a role at work that required extensive travel, more than 150,000 miles per year. While I…

In May of 2017, I had an episode of postmenopausal bleeding. My GYN saw me the same day and did a biopsy of my uterine lining in his office. A few weeks later, the results returned as atypical, and he scheduled me for a D&C. While waiting, I decided to get another opinion. My slides were sent to another institution…

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…