Ovarian Cancer: Karen's Patient Story
What happened, in summary
Karen Perry was undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer when she and her husband, Brian, learned that their 11-year-old son, Owen, had leukemia. Owen spent 5 months in the hospital, and Karen described hearing his diagnosis as even harder than learning she had cancer herself.
The family had to balance care for two people with cancer while trying to keep life as normal as possible for their daughter, Julia. One parent stayed home with her at night while Owen was hospitalized, and friends and neighbors helped with meals and transportation. Karen and Owen also approached cancer differently, and Karen learned that she could manage her own reaction without trying to control how her son responded.
Karen found that Owen’s illness sometimes shifted her attention away from her own cancer, while Owen drew reassurance from watching his mother continue with everyday life during treatment. They became what Karen called cheerleaders for each other. The family’s experience highlights the practical and emotional strain of having two people undergoing cancer care at the same time, along with the value of accepting help and protecting routines for other family members.
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