Stage II Ovarian Cancer: Betsy's Patient Story
This ovarian cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage II
- Treatment
- chemotherapy
Treatment course, step by step
- Betsy received combined intraperitoneal and intravenous chemotherapy with cisplatin and Taxol.
- After developing hives from Taxol, she continued it through a monitored desensitization process using a slower, diluted infusion.
What happened, in summary
Betsy Feldmann was 58 when persistent abdominal pressure led her through visits with four doctors before she was diagnosed with Stage II ovarian cancer. A committed triathlete, she wanted to remain active during treatment and continued swimming, biking, walking, and some running when she felt well enough.
Her treatment included combined intraperitoneal and intravenous chemotherapy with cisplatin and Taxol. When Taxol caused hives, her care team used a monitored desensitization process so she could continue receiving the drug more slowly and in a diluted infusion. She also received nutrition support when treatment caused nausea and changes that affected how she felt.
Exercise remained an important part of Betsy’s routine throughout treatment. After treatment ended, she returned to competition and won first place in her age group in a sprint triathlon. She also completed the 188-mile Pan-Mass Challenge route and later took part in a mile-long swim in the Charles River. Her story centers on maintaining activity and quality of life while adapting to intensive treatment.
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