Ovarian Cancer: Bryn's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

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 connection to City of Hope helped her get urgent specialty care in Los Angeles just as pandemic restrictions were beginning. More advanced imaging showed a single mass larger than a football, and Bryn was diagnosed with dysgerminoma, a very rare ovarian germ cell tumor that usually affects younger women. Gynecologic oncologist Lorna Rodriguez-Rodriguez led her care. The following Monday, she removed a 10-pound tumor while carefully preserving Bryn’s fertility, something Bryn deeply hoped for. Genomic testing then added important clarity. No hereditary cancer mutation was found, but the tumor itself carried an unnamed mutation usually associated with testicular cancer and not previously seen in a woman. That information helped City of Hope build a personalized plan. Bryn then completed 4 rounds of intensive chemotherapy, with each round involving many 8-hour infusions over weeks. Pandemic isolation made treatment harder, but the nursing team became a key source of support. Recovery took time, but Bryn eventually returned to mountain life, hiking, skiing, work changes and a new dog, while encouraging other young adults to listen to their bodies.