In November 2021, my world took an unexpected turn. It began with sudden stomach pain and bloating. I assumed I ate something that didn’t agree with me. After a week, the pain still hadn’t gone away, so I decided to see my doctor.
My doctor ordered a CT scan to find out what was causing my symptoms. A few hours after my CT scan, my doctor called and expressed concern that my left ovary and fallopian tube couldn’t be seen on the scan. I was told I may have internal bleeding and to go to the emergency room immediately. At the ER, it was discovered that the reason my ovary and fallopian tube were not showing in the scan was due to a grapefruit-sized mass on my ovary.
In January 2022, I went in for laparoscopic surgery. The mass was successfully removed. However, the next day I received a call from my doctor informing me that the mass they removed was actually a tumor. I was advised to see an oncologist. Five days after my surgery, I met with an oncologist and was diagnosed with a Granulosa Cell Tumor, a type of ovarian cancer.
I was still relatively young, only 29 years old. I still planned on having children, so my oncologist and I decided to remove only my left ovary and fallopian tube in February 2022. The surgery appeared to be successful, and biopsies were taken.
Despite the successful removal of my ovary and fallopian tube, it was discovered that my ovary had been pressed against another organ. Unfortunately, the cancer had spread. I was officially diagnosed with stage 2B cancer.
Fortunately, my doctor explained that the Granulosa Cell Tumor prefers to sit and grow rather than invade – and is unlikely to spread more. I was also told that this type doesn’t respond well to chemo and radiation. Due to it being unlikely that the cancer will spread further, my doctor felt confident that we could wait until after I have children before getting a total hysterectomy.
Currently, we are monitoring my cancer with yearly CT scans and getting my Inhibin B checked every three months. I’m on a fertility preservation plan. I will be getting a hysterectomy once I’m done having children.
A testament to resilience, my dream of motherhood came true when I successfully gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in October 2023.
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