Ovarian Cancer: Chen's Survivor Story
This ovarian cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Treatment
- surgery and chemotherapy
- Outcome
- Cancer-Free / NED
Treatment course, step by step
- In June 2019, surgery removed a grapefruit-sized cancerous tumor beside Chen’s left ovary along with the ovary.
- She then completed 6 rounds of chemotherapy over the next 5 months.
What happened, in summary
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 later, surgeons removed a grapefruit-sized cancerous tumor beside her left ovary along with the ovary itself.
Chen then completed 6 rounds of chemotherapy over 5 months. Fatigue was especially difficult, and she often felt isolated because most patients around her were much older. Her friends left for college while she was still in treatment, and she postponed starting university until spring 2020.
As follow-up continued, Chen began turning her experience into support for others. She joined Dana-Farber patient and family advisory activities, mentored other ovarian cancer patients, and spent time in a cancer research laboratory while studying biochemistry. Nearly 5 years after diagnosis, she was cancer-free and planning to pursue medical and research training focused on gynecologic cancers.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by Dana-Farber. 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