Stage III Ovarian Cancer: Margaret's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Margaret Winchester was diagnosed with advanced Stage III ovarian cancer in 2008 after months of bloating, constipation, and menstrual changes were followed by sudden pain during Pilates. A CT scan found a mass. She began treatment with surgery to remove her ovaries, uterus, and as much tumor as possible from her abdomen. After discussing options with her oncology team, Margaret joined a clinical trial that used two drugs delivered directly into the abdomen and another through a vein. Small ovarian tumors later recurred and were treated with cryoablation. She subsequently completed another clinical trial using one new drug and two standard drugs. Margaret continued working as a child welfare lawyer throughout much of her cancer journey. Work gave her a sense of normalcy and focus, even when fatigue made daily life harder. Her experience also led her to speak publicly about ovarian cancer symptoms and the importance of paying attention to persistent changes in the body. At the time of the story, she was living with recurrent ovarian cancer after several treatment approaches and remained engaged in both her career and awareness efforts.