Ovarian Cancer: Vilma's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Vilma Rosario had recently come through treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma when a follow-up visit found a peach-size cyst on her ovary. Because the mass could have been benign, borderline or malignant, she met a gynecologic cancer surgeon for further evaluation. Vilma underwent a robot-assisted procedure to examine and remove the mass. During surgery, the doctor saw that it appeared to be in an early phase and removed Vilma’s uterus as part of the operation. Pathology confirmed a clear cell carcinoma of the ovary. The ovarian diagnosis came only months after Vilma’s lymphoma had gone into remission, but she and her partner Michele decided not to postpone their wedding again. While Michele handled much of the planning, Vilma focused on recovery and treatment. She received 6 chemotherapy treatments at a center close to home, with the last treatment on June 22. Vilma continued healing while she and Michele married in May 2016, supported by their children and confident that they could face the next part of the journey together. Her ovarian-cancer treatment had included surgery and 6 chemotherapy treatments while she rebuilt life after two separate cancer diagnoses.