Surgery for Ovarian Cancer: 46 Real Stories
46 stories match ovarian cancer and surgery. 40 of them mention chemotherapy.
Stage IV BRCA1 Ovarian Cancer: Lauren’s Patient Story
Lauren Corduck learned on December 31, 2016, that she carried a BRCA1 mutation inherited from her father. She had been preparing to consider risk-reducing surgery, but an MRI ordered for severe back pain revealed an unexpected finding. Further evaluation…
Read this storyOvarian Cancer: Vilma’s Patient Story
Vilma Rosario had recently come through treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma when a follow-up visit found a peach-size cyst on her ovary. Because the mass could have been benign, borderline or malignant, she met a gynecologic cancer surgeon for further…
Read this storyStage I Ovarian Cancer: Jane’s Survivor Story
Jane McGrath was 45 when persistent bloating, back pain and fatigue led her to seek medical attention. A transvaginal ultrasound and a second scan showed a growth about the size of an orange on her left ovary. She was referred to Memorial Sloan Kettering…
Read this storyOvarian Cancer: Kimberly’s Patient Story
Kimberly Zukerberg described how ovarian cancer abruptly changed a life that had been highly active. Before diagnosis, she taught spin and swimming, ran a summer camp and played tennis. After ovarian cancer and major surgery, she spent about a month in the…
Read this storyStage II Ovarian Cancer: Dana’s Survivor Story
A painful lump in the left side of this patient’s abdomen eventually led to a diagnosis of bilateral ovarian cancer in 2018. Early imaging showed very large tumors, but repeat evaluation at MD Anderson found that the cancer had not spread extensively. It was…
Read this storyStage IV Ovarian Cancer: Manisha’s Survivor Story
Manisha Koirala was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in 2012 after persistent sickness and abdominal bloating. The cancer had spread beyond the ovaries. After a second opinion confirmed the diagnosis, Manisha traveled from Nepal to New York for…
Read this storyOvarian Cancer: Bryn’s Survivor Story
Bryn Cloud was in her early 20s when worsening lower-back pain, low-grade fever and a growing stomach bulge appeared in March 2020. At first, she wondered if she had COVID-19, but ultrasound imaging near home suggested a serious abdominal problem. Her family…
Read this storyOvarian Cancer: Robyn’s Survivor Story
This ovarian cancer survivor was first diagnosed in April 2022. During routine follow-up in March 2025, abdominal scans showed an enlarged lymph node and raised concern that the cancer had returned. Wanting another opinion before deciding on treatment, she…
Read this storyStage II Ovarian Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Caitlin’s Survivor Story
Caitlin Koehler was 27 when a year of severe abdominal pain finally led to CT imaging that found an 11 cm mass on her right ovary. She underwent removal of the right ovary and fallopian tube, and pathology showed Stage II squamous cell carcinoma arising in a…
Read this storyStage III Ovarian Cancer: Mary’s Survivor Story
Mary Catherine Riley was 46 in 2019 when persistent bloating and urinary frequency led to testing that found ovarian cancer. Her specialist diagnosed stage III disease involving lymph nodes, and surgery confirmed low-grade serous ovarian cancer. She then…
Read this storyOvarian Cancer: Angela’s Survivor Story
At 32, an MD Anderson employee learned of an ovarian dysgerminoma after an annual well-woman exam in 2018. The gynecologist felt a hard area in the abdomen, and surgery was performed to remove the mass. Pathology showed that it was cancer. The patient chose…
Read this storyStage III BRCA1 Ovarian Cancer: Carla’s Survivor Story
This patient was diagnosed with Stage III high-grade serous ovarian cancer in July 2023 after months of bloating, unexplained weight loss and increasing abdominal pressure. CT scans performed during an emergency-room visit showed two very large ovarian…
Read this storyStage III Ovarian Cancer: Rachel’s Patient Story
Rachel was 31 when a year of infertility led to the discovery of ovarian cancer. She had experienced bloating, increasingly painful and heavy periods, night sweats, and difficulty conceiving, but routine pelvic exams and bloodwork had previously appeared…
Read this storyOvarian Cancer: Lissa’s Survivor Story
This patient was first diagnosed with a granulosa cell tumor, a rare ovarian cancer, in early 2005 and received treatment locally. The cancer stayed under control for about 12 years before recurring in 2017. After another recurrence in 2024 and uncertainty…
Read this storyOvarian Cancer: Shraddha’s Patient Story
Shraddha Pandey discovered a hard lump in her abdomen while she was still in school. A local doctor referred her to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and quickly transferred to another city for treatment. The diagnosis was frightening…
Read this storyStage IV Ovarian Cancer: Susan’s Patient Story
Susan Dunwoody was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer in 2015 after years of frequent urination and burping were followed by sudden, severe abdominal swelling. Her husband, Mac, remembers that they initially hoped for just 6 more months together. Susan…
Read this storyOvarian Cancer: Chen’s Survivor Story
Chen Wen Ye was 18 and one week away from high school graduation when worsening abdominal pain and bloating led to an emergency visit in May 2019. She had gained almost 10 pounds in a week, and further evaluation confirmed mucinous ovarian cancer. A week…
Read this storyStage III Ovarian Cancer: Jaclyn’s Patient Story
Jackie VanRaaphorst’s ovarian cancer journey began with stomach pain in March 2015. Ultrasound and CT imaging led to a diagnosis of Stage III ovarian cancer. She underwent a complete hysterectomy that removed the uterus, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes…
Read this storyStage I BRCA1 Ovarian Cancer: Carol’s Survivor Story
After treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, this patient tested positive for a BRCA1 mutation and began high-risk gynecologic follow-up. CA-125 levels remained within the normal range, but the gynecologic oncologist recommended risk-reduction removal…
Read this storyStage III Ovarian Cancer: Karoline’s Patient Story
The patient was diagnosed with Stage III clear cell ovarian cancer on Feb. 6, 2020 after pain with urination led to a CT scan. The scan showed a mass about the size of her fist on the right ovary, and her gynecologist confirmed cancer. Her treatment began…
Read this storyStage III BRCA Ovarian Cancer: Mimi’s Survivor Story
Mimi Gallagher was 46 when bloating, constipation and lethargy led to several medical visits in July 2012. A vaginal ultrasound eventually confirmed Stage III ovarian cancer. Within days, she went from being an active stay-at-home mother of two to preparing…
Read this storyOvarian Cancer Survivor Story
At 43, this patient had a hysterectomy for fibroids. During the operation, the surgeon noticed an abnormal ovarian cyst and removed the ovary. The cyst was cancerous. One month later, in June 2009, the second ovary was removed with a lymph node dissection; 1…
Read this storyStage III Ovarian Cancer: Margaret’s Patient Story
Margaret Winchester was diagnosed with advanced Stage III ovarian cancer in 2008 after months of bloating, constipation, and menstrual changes were followed by sudden pain during Pilates. A CT scan found a mass. She began treatment with surgery to remove her…
Read this storyOvarian Cancer: Faye’s Patient Story
While finishing radiation for an earlier breast cancer, Faye Belvin developed pain in her side. A blood test at a routine oncology visit raised concern, and follow-up scans and biopsies led to a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in February 2021. Faye began…
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