Stage I Ovarian Cancer: Mary's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Mary “Dicey” Jackson Scroggins spent about 2 years dealing with abdominal bloating, weight gain, frequent urination and heavy menstrual bleeding before ovarian cancer was discovered. In September 1996, at age 46, she underwent a hysterectomy for fibroids and an ovarian cyst. During the operation, her gynecologist found a tumor involving the ovary and called a gynecologic oncologist to complete the cancer surgery. Pathology showed Stage I clear-cell ovarian cancer. Although the disease had been found at an early stage, the clear-cell subtype led to additional treatment. Dicey received 6 cycles of chemotherapy and completed them in February 1997. Nearly 2 decades after treatment, the ovarian cancer had not recurred and Dicey described herself as a survivor. An oncology nurse played an important role in her early recovery and connected her with other women affected by gynecologic cancers. Those relationships, together with support from her family, helped shape Dicey’s later advocacy. She became active in efforts to improve ovarian-cancer awareness, strengthen cancer research and reduce disparities in access to high-quality care.