What happened, in summary

Rachel Orth was 33 with three young children when surgery for what doctors thought was a benign ovarian mass revealed cancer in December 2020. She later learned that she had metastatic gastric cancer. The diagnosis came during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding isolation and treatment delays to an already overwhelming situation.

Rachel and her husband sought additional expert opinions and were advised to consider clinical trials. She chose care at MD Anderson Cancer Center, about 270 miles from home. Before she could start a phase I trial, COVID-19 exposure and then her own symptoms delayed the procedures needed for enrollment.

Once treatment began, Rachel traveled to Houston every 3 weeks. Pandemic restrictions often meant attending scans, blood tests, and appointments alone while her husband joined by video. Despite the stress, the trial controlled her cancer: scans showed stable disease, allowing her to spend time with her children and continue family activities.

Rachel described the trial as life-sustaining and became a strong supporter of cancer research funding. She died in June 2025.