Ovarian Cancer: Robyn's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

This ovarian cancer survivor was first diagnosed in April 2022. During routine follow-up in March 2025, abdominal scans showed an enlarged lymph node and raised concern that the cancer had returned. Wanting another opinion before deciding on treatment, she traveled from Boston to MD Anderson. After further examination and testing, her new team also believed she was experiencing a recurrence and recommended surgery. On April 22, 2025, she underwent surgery at MD Anderson. She then completed 6 rounds of chemotherapy closer to home. After chemotherapy, she started the PARP inhibitor olaparib and was still taking it when she shared her story. She reported having no evidence of disease since the previous December. The experience also left her with significant anxiety in some medical settings after difficult earlier care. She described the second-opinion process as important because the new team listened to her concerns, explained the treatment plan clearly and involved her in decisions about surgery and follow-up.