“Last summer, at 41 years old, I learned I was BRCA1+. While I did have a family history of breast cancer, there was no family history of ovarian cancer. Due to my age, my doctors recommended prophylactic removal of my ovaries and fallopian tubes, and I scheduled an appointment with a gynecological oncologist to discuss surgery. Starting around this same time, I could feel ‘something’ (not pain, just ‘something’) near my right ovary. I didn’t have any other symptoms - no bloating, no heartburn, no period changes. Due to my high-risk status, my gynecologist took this seriously and did a transvaginal ultrasound which disclosed a small cyst…”

“I was experiencing bloating and minor cramping, so I called my family doctor and she sent me for an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed a large tumor on my ovaries and I was sent to the ER immediately for a CT scan, which confirmed it was cancer. I actually had two tumors, one on each ovary, and ascites build up in my abdomen. My medical team recommended a full hysterectomy. During my surgery, the surgeon also took a portion of my intestine for pathology so I had an ostomy bag for 8 months which was then reversed. About 6 weeks after my surgery I began my six rounds of chemotherapy…”

“I was experiencing frequent abdominal bloating, irregular periods and cramping. I sought medical attention numerous times without answers, until one doctor finally asked about my family history. My mother and other family members had Uterine Cancer, and then genetic testing found I had a genetic condition called Lynch Syndrome MSH6. A uterine ultrasound showed a large tumor on my left ovary and surgery was quickly scheduled. During the surgery, a biopsy of the tumor came back as Clear Cell Carcinoma. The surgeons completed the full debulking procedure and removed all my lymph nodes. I was diagnosed as...”

“In May 2009, around my 50th birthday, I went to see my primary care physician for a routine annual physical exam.  I told her that I thought I was starting menopause because I had irregular and heavier periods and I was gaining weight (without any change in my diet or exercise routine.)  She thought that I was going into menopause, and she did a typical annual physical exam including a pelvic exam.  She did not notice anything abnormal about my ovaries or uterus when doing the pelvic exam, but she decided to send me for a vaginal ultrasound anyway (which is very unusual for a primary care physician to do.)  The ultrasound revealed that both my ovaries were enlarged to the size of grapefruits and that I had complex cysts.  My physician sent me to see my gynecologist for further follow up…”

“My name is Donna Rosin. I have always considered myself very healthy. I rarely got sick. I was exercising daily, I ate well, and had only been in the hospital for the birth of my 3 children. In 2010, when I was 44, I noticed I was tired. This seemed normal with three children, two dogs, a house, a husband, and an active social life. In May, I noticed two enlarged lymph nodes in my groin. I went to the doctor, and I remember his exact words, "I see this all the time...only one of every thousand enlarged lymph nodes ends up being something serious." Being a healthy person the thought of “something serious” was not even a possibility.

The news came that the lymph nodes were a symptom of metastatic ovarian cancer. My world came to a standstill.  After blood tests, scans, and meeting a gynecological oncologist, the reality of a cancer diagnosis was beginning to sink in. However, it was surreal…”