Ovarian Cancer: Brittany's Patient Story
This ovarian cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Sex
- female
- Treatment
- surgery
Treatment course, step by step
- The patient had her ovaries removed during ovarian cancer treatment.
- After the cancer returned in May 2014, she completed another course of treatment.
What happened, in summary
This patient and her husband had always imagined having children, but ovarian cancer changed those plans. Before her ovaries were removed during cancer treatment, she was able to have eggs retrieved and frozen so they would have options for becoming parents later.
They initially hoped she might be able to carry a pregnancy after 2 years in remission. That plan changed when the ovarian cancer returned in May 2014. Concerned that pregnancy might no longer be the right path, the couple explored surrogacy before deciding that adoption fit them best.
After completing treatment for the recurrence and receiving a good follow-up report, they began the adoption process. The patient worried that her medical history might make adoption difficult, but agencies told her that they had worked with other cancer survivors.
She described adoption as one of the unexpected directions her cancer experience opened for her. Although the possibility of another diagnosis remained frightening, she and her husband chose to continue building their family and to focus on living rather than allowing cancer to stop their plans.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by MD Anderson. Read the original in full
How we source and attribute stories Accuracy and limitations
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team. Read the full disclaimer