Ovarian Cancer: Allison's Patient Story

Patient Info: Allison Bellevue, Under 40

After completing chemotherapy, Allison gave birth to a healthy son and later underwent removal of her right ovary.

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Stage II Ovarian Cancer: Betsy's Patient Story

Patient Info: Betsy Feldmann, 50s | Stage II

After treatment ended, Betsy returned to endurance events, including triathlon competition, long-distance cycling, and open-water swimming.

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Stage IV Ovarian Cancer: Diane's Patient Story

Patient Info: Diane Sarver, female | Stage IV

After about 7 weeks on the clinical trial, Diane's test results had normalized; she was entering her third year on treatment and planned to continue while it remained effective and tolerable.

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Stage III Ovarian Cancer: Pam's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Pam Scarpino, female | Stage III

Pam had no evidence of disease in March 2010 after treatment for recurrence and remained in remission at the time of the story.

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Ovarian Adenosquamous Cancer Treated With Surgery and Chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 50s | Stage I

Five and a half years after chemotherapy, she remained free of recurrence.

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Ovarian Cancer With Severe Dermatomyositis During Treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s | Stage III

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

She continued paclitaxel and carboplatin while being treated for severe dermatomyositis and later described herself as finally on the mend.

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Stage I Ovarian Squamous Cell Cancer Found in a Long-Standing Dermoid Cyst

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s | Stage I

At 22 months after treatment, she had no clinically identifiable recurrence.

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Metastatic Ovarian Cancer Discovered After Recurrent Embolic Strokes

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: left axillary lymph node

She received 1 cycle of paclitaxel and carboplatin and died on day 54 of her second hospital admission. Her family declined an autopsy.

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Metastatic Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Causing Severe Pulmonary Hypertension

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+ | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: pleura, pulmonary arteries

She died on hospital day 29 after rapidly progressive pulmonary hypertension. Autopsy attributed the pulmonary hypertension to metastatic ovarian serous carcinoma with pulmonary arterial tumor emboli.

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High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer With a Paraneoplastic Skin Condition

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s

During first-line carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy, the paraneoplastic skin changes regressed and the CA125 level returned to the normal range.

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High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer With Markedly Elevated Amylase

Patient Info: Anonymized, female | Stage III

At 6 months, she was receiving 3 additional chemotherapy cycles after an excellent initial clinical and imaging response, with later marker changes reflecting periods of progression and response.

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How nurses helped me through my ovarian cancer recurrence

Patient Info: Brittany Hurst

After a 70-day hospitalization in summer 2014, including 58 days at MD Anderson, the patient continued monthly follow-up visits and ongoing treatment.

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Stage III Ovarian Cancer Treated Over Years Before a Separate Oral Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s | Stage III

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

After prolonged treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer, follow-up visits documented her as free from ovarian disease.

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Stage I Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor in a 19-Year-Old

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, Under 40 | Stage I

She was continuing adjuvant chemotherapy 4 months into treatment without major reported complications.

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Mixed Ovarian Germ Cell Cancer in an 18-Year-Old

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, Under 40

At both 3-month and 6-month follow-up, she had no evidence of recurrence.

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Losing my hair during ovarian cancer treatment

Patient Info: Brittany Hurst, Under 40

During ovarian cancer treatment, she was coping with chemotherapy-related hair loss and fatigue while finding ways to maintain her sense of identity.

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Ovarian Cancer Recurrence Complicated by a Benign Surgical Stitch Reaction

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s | Stage III

Diffuse peritoneal relapse was confirmed, and she remained on third-line chemotherapy with persistent evidence of ovarian cancer.

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Ovarian Cancer Recurs as a Solitary Splenic Metastasis Six Years Later

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: spleen

After removal of the solitary splenic metastasis, she returned to gynecologic oncology and received another course of paclitaxel and carboplatin.

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Fertility-Sparing Surgery for Stage I Endometrioid Ovarian Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, Under 40 | Stage I

Biomarkers: BRCA1/2 negative

She had two spontaneous pregnancies after treatment and remained without evidence of disease at 46 months.

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Stage III BRCA1 Ovarian Cancer: Meredith's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Meredith Ippolito, female | Stage III

Biomarkers: BRCA1 mutation

Meredith was told she was cancer-free in April 2009 and continued follow-up visits every 6 months.

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Ovarian Cancer: Betty's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Betty White, female

Betty had remained cancer-free for nearly 16 years after chemotherapy at the time of the story.

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Stage IV Ovarian Cancer: Bre's Patient Story

Patient Info: Bre Tipps, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

A recent CT scan showed the remaining tumors calcifying and dying during hormonal therapy, although the patient expected to need ongoing ovarian cancer treatment.

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Ovarian Dysgerminoma Treatment Followed by Bleomycin-Related Skin Changes

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, Under 40

A 23-year-old woman treated for ovarian dysgerminoma developed persistent streak-like skin darkening after bleomycin-containing chemotherapy.

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Recurrent Ovarian Cancer With Tumor Lysis Syndrome After Chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: lungs

After 9 years of stable disease, the ovarian cancer progressed extensively and the first cycle of renewed chemotherapy was complicated by severe tumor lysis syndrome and multiorgan illness.

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