Ovarian Cancer: Yvette's Patient Story
This ovarian cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Sex
- female
What happened, in summary
Yvette Jives was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011 after years of working as a nurse and social worker. Even with her healthcare background, ovarian cancer was unfamiliar to her. She initially moved into practical mode, preparing for medical care while also worrying about her husband, four children, 12 grandchildren, and the patients she served at work.
Family support became important as Yvette learned to let other people help. She also saw gaps in ovarian cancer awareness and support in her North Carolina community, particularly for women of color and people who were uninsured or under-insured. In 2017, she founded Health Education and Resources, or HERS.
Through HERS, Yvette organized community events that combined education with practical support such as meals, childcare, transportation, and interpreters. She encouraged women to recognize symptoms, understand family history, ask questions, and leave medical appointments with a clear plan. She also began supporting people with ovarian cancer through OCRA’s Woman to Woman program.
Her experience changed how she thought about vulnerability. Rather than trying to keep everyone else okay, Yvette learned to accept help from her family and community while using her own journey to make ovarian cancer more visible.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. 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