Stage III Ovarian Cancer: Mary's Survivor Story
This ovarian cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage III
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and a clinical trial
- Outcome
- Cancer-Free / NED
Treatment course, step by step
- She underwent surgery in 2019, which confirmed low-grade serous ovarian cancer.
- She received 6 rounds of chemotherapy from August through November 2019.
- After chemotherapy, she started anastrozole to help prevent recurrence.
- After a lymph-node recurrence was confirmed in 2023, she entered a clinical trial of avutometinib and defactinib.
- She achieved a complete response within 1 year and remained on the trial for 2 years.
- After FDA approval in May 2025, she continued the targeted combination as Avmapki Fakzynja Co-pack.
What happened, in summary
Mary Catherine Riley was 46 in 2019 when persistent bloating and urinary frequency led to testing that found ovarian cancer. Her specialist diagnosed stage III disease involving lymph nodes, and surgery confirmed low-grade serous ovarian cancer. She then received 6 rounds of chemotherapy from August through November 2019 while continuing to teach as much as possible. Hair loss, fatigue, and chemo brain were manageable, and after chemotherapy she had no evidence of disease. She started anastrozole to help reduce the risk of recurrence.
For 3 years, regular CT scans remained stable. In 2023, however, an enlarged lymph node was biopsied and confirmed that the cancer had returned. Mary joined a clinical trial of the targeted drugs avutometinib and defactinib. Within a year, she achieved a complete response despite persistent side effects including skin rashes, vision changes, and fluid retention that required supportive care and dose adjustments.
Mary stayed on the trial for 2 years. After the drugs received FDA approval in May 2025, she transitioned to the approved combination, Avmapki Fakzynja Co-pack. She continues treatment with quarterly CT scans and monthly labs and remains without evidence of disease. Outside treatment, she continues hiking, yoga, meditation, art, and time with her family.
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