What happened, in summary

Dana Kivel was diagnosed in late 2011 with a rare ovarian cancer called a granulosa cell tumor. Over the next 10 years, the cancer recurred, with new tumors appearing in other parts of their body. Dana underwent four surgeries and received 5 months of chemotherapy in 2017. At the time of the story, they were taking aromatase inhibitors, described as estrogen blockers, to reduce the size of a current tumor.

Dana is nonbinary and gender queer and uses they/them pronouns. Their cancer journey has often required them and their wife, Sharon, to explain Dana’s identity and pronouns to health professionals while also coping with treatment and recovery. A recurrence in 2015 delayed a planned mastectomy related to Dana’s gender transition, and their medical team later advised against hormone treatment because of uncertainty about how it might affect their health.

Dana turned these experiences into advocacy. They volunteer with OCRA’s Survivors Teaching Students program and speak about the needs of transgender and nonbinary people with ovarian cancer. Their goal is to help patients be seen, heard, and included in cancer care and research.