Stage III Ovarian Cancer: Jaclyn's Patient Story
This ovarian cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage III
- Biomarkers
- FRα-positive; CA-125 monitored
- Treatment
- surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy
- Outcome
- In Memory
Treatment course, step by step
- In 2015, she underwent complete hysterectomy with removal of the uterus, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes.
- She then received carboplatin and Taxol chemotherapy and remained cancer-free for more than 1 year.
- After recurrence, she received multiple additional chemotherapy regimens.
- She also received PARP inhibitors.
- She received immunotherapies and other treatment combinations.
- In April 2023, after testing confirmed FRα-positive disease, she started mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx (Elahere).
- After 4 cycles, her CA-125 had fallen by 500 points.
What happened, in summary
Jackie VanRaaphorst’s ovarian cancer journey began with stomach pain in March 2015. Ultrasound and CT imaging led to a diagnosis of Stage III ovarian cancer. She underwent a complete hysterectomy that removed the uterus, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes, followed by carboplatin and Taxol chemotherapy. The initial treatment kept her cancer away for more than a year. Regular CT scans and CA-125 testing later showed that the disease had returned, beginning a long cycle of additional treatments. Over about 8 years, Jackie received multiple chemotherapies, PARP inhibitors, immunotherapies and treatment combinations. Each approach controlled the cancer for a time before toxicity or another recurrence forced a change. By late 2022, options were becoming limited. Testing showed that her cancer was folate receptor alpha positive, qualifying her for mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx, or Elahere. She began the treatment in April 2023 and completed 4 cycles by the time of her account. Her CA-125 fell by 500 points, giving her hope that upcoming imaging would also show benefit. Jackie became a strong advocate for cancer research and for therapies that can extend patients’ time with family and friends. Jackie died on January 16, 2025.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by AACR. 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