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.