What happened, in summary

Elizabeth Jardinella was 25 and had recently given birth when persistent bleeding, bloating, pain, and other symptoms eventually led to the discovery of a mass on her left ovary. After months of uncertainty, she sought care at MD Anderson, where surgery in January 2024 confirmed Stage II low-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Her first operation included hysterectomy, removal of both fallopian tubes, the left ovary, omentum, and lymph nodes. Because testing showed the cancer was strongly hormone-driven, Jardinella was offered a clinical trial studying chemotherapy followed by letrozole. She chose to have her remaining ovary removed in February 2024 so she could participate.

Jardinella completed six rounds of carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy in June 2024 and then began letrozole maintenance, planned for five years. Treatment brought hair loss, nausea, early menopause, and anxiety, but she used counseling and young-adult support services throughout recovery. About two years later, surveillance scans continued to show no evidence of disease. She now volunteers to support other patients and encourages young people to persist when symptoms do not feel normal.