My Ovarian Cancer Story at age 22 during COVID-19 

Catherine i to had ovarian cancer i was 24 i an 67 now i have been cancer free ever scents

"Are you sure you want to know?" Truly horrendous bedside manner. And when you were asking about the imaging and what it showed, there WAS a doctor there who could have told you. And to be diagnosed with a cyst like that over the phone and not make the ultrasound a priority shows how apathetic doctors have become lately. You are such a bright, well spoken young lady and I wish you the very best. The world of social work needs more people like you.

Thank you for your story. Advocating for yourself as a patient is so important as you have shown.

30 years ago this was me I couldn’t have anymore children 😢 but I was blessed to have my son 💙 there is hope 💕💞

I had a malignant teratoma at the age of 22 also. I had chemotherapy and surgery and now I’m 56 with two grown children. Best of luck to you. You got this❤️

i've heard way too many stories of women getting their health issues brushed off then months or years later they find out its cancer and it's usually terminal at that point. when really if the doctor took them serious they could've treated it when it still wasn't as bad. its terrible and the doctors should be held accountable

How the hell did a doctor look at a mass with bones and teeth and not immediately identify it as a teratoma? They're meant to be world class? God, I'm angry for you. (I'm a med student and we'd all have been able to identify this from 2 weeks into our clinical degree)

I was told age 19 I had cysts on my ovaries and not to worry....they are NORMAL....same thing you were told. Same tests same things were told to me as well. My stomach got huge as well. The pain is insane ...lower back pain,got bed ridden several times as well. Well the day came they found what I knew was there....They wanted to remove my uterus but did some concurrent tests that found the Cancer had moved...common word matastesize .....Now I'm told they are concerned about a rapid spread and another choice given....live with it until,well you get it ...I'm glad your on top of this and not waited like me....God bless you young lady!

Thank you for sharing your story in such an honest and detailed way. You are going to be the best social worker and never let people get pushed away. Hope you’re doing well, keep us all updated. I’m rooting for you 💕

6 year survivor, I’m so proud of you for pressing on and sorry for what you had to endure.

Yea my mom told me not having a period is normal found out i had pcos now at 25 I’m waiting on my biopsy results. Praying your cancer won’t return

Thank you for sharing your story ❤ My grandmother died at age 30 from ovarian cancer. This was after she had 4 children. I love hearing real story's and symptoms just in case I end up inheriting it. Hope you are doing well and pray it doesn't come back.

Just got diagnosed with cancer at well, in a birthmark. I know it’s not the same but just wanted to send hugs from Denmark 🥰

I know this was posted 8 mo's ago and I am hoping things are going well for everyone that has gotten this diagnosis. When my daughter was 33, she was diagnosed with clear cell OVCA. Her Doctor brushed it off originally as an ovarian cyst. She insisted that it was something different.. so just as you said..you have to be your own advocate and be persistent with these doctors. My daughter had to have her chemo first,then a total hysterectomy. I am proud to say that after almost 20 years later she remains cancer free. She went back to college..obtained her master's and is a science teacher. Oh and she was also a single parent back then with 3 small kids. I hope for the best for anyone with this nasty disease and that all of you are kicking cancers ass like my daughter. I am forever thankful.

I have a super rare form of clear cell ovarian cancer which my dr says my endometriosis caused. I’m 24. Keeping you in my prayers! It’s hard finding a new normal in a new normal caused by a pandemic. Stay strong! We will overcome this ♥️🙏🏽

This was in my recommendations. Woah, I was diagnosed with this exact cancer when I was 18. Im 27 now with 3 boys and doing fine. I went through 6 rounds of chemo. I had symptoms like you but you never really think its anything. What made me get checked was the fact that I could feel the tumor when I pressed down on my stomach. I was lucky the cancer stayed only in the tumor. They told me it was rare for it to come back again. I pray it won't. I've never known anyone else, especially so young with this type of cancer. It feels like it a dream when I think back to it. But going through it made my perspective on everything change, in a good way. I wish you the best, you're going to look back at this one day and remember how much stronger it made you. 💗

So many doctors treat women complaining of pain as if they're weak, or faking it, or seeking medicine. Thank you for for telling us not to settle when they dismiss our pain and tell us that it's nothing!

"if your body is telling you that you're in pain, if your body has made these changes, there's probably something to be concerned about" YES thank you for this. pain is not normal, it indicates something is wrong. it can be from a "normal" cause like regular menstrual cramps or pain after surgery, of course, etc. but anything chronic or random seemingly without cause should be investigated. women especially are told that our pain is normal when it is often not. it might not just mean cancer (which is rather rare for certain age groups) but could mean endometriosis, ovarian cysts, nerve or muscle pain, etc. so many causes, and I strongly believe that patients women especially should and need to be their own advocates. fight for answers, it could potentially even save your life.

Ok....this is amazing....I am watching this video, I hearing you story, and you get to the part where the doctor call you back to tell you the pathology report..I tell myself.....if she says immature terratoma I’m going to die...and you DID. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAD. STAGE 3. Mine was grade 3 because it ha spread to other places ....I had grueling chemo for about 5 months. I had the tumor marker test like you. The AFP was the most important one to follow...it was hard but I SURVIVED. ~~~~~~~~~~~that was 22 years ago last month!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 you will be fine🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️❤️❤️

Hi! I had similar symptoms to you as well and I was 18, 19 now. Earlier this year I was bloating and had frequent urination and such. We went to the doctors and they kept telling me it was constipation. 3 months in from seeing the doctor my stomach did go down a little but not much. My mom really pushed for an ultrasound. So I eventually got it, in the end they found a cyst of 20cm. It was basically my entire stomach and was pushing in my bladder. I had a laparotomy surgery two weeks ago and I’m recovering from it, good news was it was a mature teratoma! All I gotta say is you really gotta be able to push for things like this. Since symptoms are usually dismissed for something else. This video was in my recommendation and I’m glad it was hope your doing better!

Catherine, I'm a guy, but hearing you tell, your stories, it's like I have ovaries, an I'm hurting with you through this whole process, especially down it that region of my pelvis. I stand with you in solidarity, not because I'm a guy and not a lady, but because feminine cancers run in my family. I am with you every step of the way.

Hello Catherine, I’ve had health issues in the past, I would say why me? Now I understand God has molded me to become a better person. Everything happens for a reason. Stay true to your faith read the Bible. Pray You’re blessed ., I like to look at the positive and there are many in your story. Your healthy right now telling your story too many

Jesus is your doctor his your surgeon your hope for your future. He will give you peace . He is the only one who has your back. Turn to Jesus who loves you very much he brought you to this Earth he knows everything about you. I'm thankful for the doctor who listens to you. Jesus put them on your path he is your best teacher to help others. You are very brave and you are not alone . Thank you so much for sharing. Thank God for you many prayers for you and God bless you always 🙏🕊️ .

I can't believe they messed you around so much before you got an answer. I'm praying for you. You are on your way to recovery! ❤️ I know it ❤️

You are such an articulate and intelligent woman. I am a nurse, I see a lot of young, healthy people who have their lives turned upside down with cancer. Sometimes there is no logical or scientific explanation as to why these things happen. Life is unfair that way sometimes. I am sending you so much positive energy for your healing. So much love to you x

Sending love from a fellow 22 year old cancer survivor. Stage one breast cancer. ❤️

I don't know my diagnosis yet but I am feeling every single symptom you felt. I'm so confused. Thank you so much for the video!

Wow. I needed this. I have had some weird symptoms, but I always downplay it and say to myself "it's nothing serious". I should really get it checked up. Thank you. Wishes from Sweden.

You're so inspirational girl! I was diagnosed with melanoma this summer and I was feeling exactly the same as you, shocked that it happened to me. It's so surreal. You're amazing!

May Allah grant u for your patience 🙏🏻❤️❤️👍🏽

Hi, I have Ovarian cancer too, this is my second fight with it, I am currently on Oral chemo and Avastin every 3 weeks, my CA125 came down 100 points so that is encouraging , Good luck to you, prayers for you beautiful

Hi my name is Jaimie. I am from Pittsburgh, PA. I had a ovarian teratoma that was found to be the size of a 22 week old fetus when I was 13 years old. I am now 22. They told me that it was most likely to be my twin!! My friends in school actually named it lol. I had the same exact symptoms as you. Thank goodness you were finally taken seriously! Do not ever feel like you are alone with this! I am now studying to be a imaging tech and graduate in May!

Thank you for sharing your story. I’m sorry you had to go through so much to get a diagnosis. Good on you for being persistent, it’s easy to let doctors convince you it’s nothing.

Thank you for sharing your story, I'm 40 years old and I recently been diagnosed with stage-4 cervical cancer that has spread to my lymph nodes, it's videos like this that help me and I'd like to thank you for opening up and sharing

U could’ve been my daughter we would’ve seen so many doctors together to find out what’s goin on I would’ve stopped my daughters are grown they still call me mommy and I will fight doctors tooth and nail to make sure mine ok I’m prayin for u sweetie

What a lovely girl you are and brave. You will be alright and will be protected.

What an awesome young lady you are. I wish you all the best and a bright future!

I had the same grade and stage as you. I had it at 17. The only difference is, I did chemo after the intial surgery. Mine was caused by a genetic mutation. I understand fully what you went through. My doctors wrote me off for many months too. I hope all is well!

yea get those answers! don't ignore your body and push for tests. I would be dying in pain sharp stabs/vomiting/immobilized for a year and it was 1 10cm & 2 5cm cysts thankfully nothing serious but still had to had lapro surgery for it! ended up being cause by endometriosis. would have been a nightmare if they ruptured inside abdomen since they were outside ovaries.

I admire your strength! I pray that this never comes back! xx

Severe pain and heavy bleeding is a warning sign. Especially if it comes out of no where. I hope this video reaches alot of women. Our cancers are called silent killers because Drs ignore it until it's too late.

I feel sick to my stomach watching this. I have a doctors appointment Monday for pain on my left side of my abdomen in one specific area that’s gotten worse over the last month or so. It’s a very hard to explain weird pain and I’ve been spotting which has never happened before.😔

I started having pain in October 2019, I finally had surgery to remove a 20cm cyst on my right ovary in December 2020. Pain has increased again since February this year, it’s a nightmare trying to be taken seriously when it comes to pain and symptoms. Thanks for making this encouraging video about your own experience 🙏❤️

I have no idea why this came up on my home feed but wow...What a brave presentation..so honest and raw and beautiful. As an ER nurse for 15 years I promise you that your story is helping some woman out there watching. Keep praying and keep believing that you are strong and amazing and this is not the end of your journey!

I had a horrendous experience with (what luckily DID turn out to be an ovarian cyst when I was 25) but made be very unwell due to its sheer size. It weighed 15kg and was growing up into my chest cavity. When the surgeon removed it my blood pressure plummeted because my body had compensated for it being there. I was in hospital for a month and it was extremely traumatic. To add insult to injury it took my doctors 6 weeks to finally tell me that it wasn't a malignant cell type - as initially they thought it would be. I went through hell and 20 years later i still have medical trauma because of it. Can't have kids as i lost that ovary and it damaged my other one.

Wow. I have not heard of other women with the same situation. I was diagnosed at 12 years old with a rare form of ovarian cancer just like yours. I had very similar signs and symptoms: bloated stomach, abnormal menstrual cycle, pain throughout my entire abdomen, could not stand straight, etc...I actually felt the tumor drop in my stomach during P.E. class when doing push ups. I went in about two months of being in pain hoping it would go away, but I was wrong, and your message says it all....Go get checked and be your biggest advocate! They couldn't believe the size of my tumor (described similarly as the size of a football).They removed my left ovary and greater omentum, and I went through about 6 months of chemotherapy. It was a journey. I am now almost 28 years old (so almost 16 years without any issues recurring). I am also a mom of two boys...never thought I would be able to have children, so I feel incredibly blessed. You are incredibly strong for sharing this, I wish you all the love through your journey. xoxo ❤️

I can't imagine going through all of that during a pandemic. I was just talking to my own family not too long ago about how lucky I was going through my own experience with a rare ovarian cancer when I did and with the team I had. I was fifteen when I was first diagnosed with my own ovarian cancer. I do think that with the right mindset you can make it through it. It's a surreal feeling where it doesn't feel like your life, but is, and there will eventually be days where you almost don't think about it (save for the scars). Keep advocating for yourself. I've had so many doctors over the years who have disregarded my "feelings" on something, even after I had gone through cancer treatments multiple times...The fight gets old, but if you build a strong team to work with you it gets easier. I will keep you in my thoughts as your go through your journey.

God bless you! You are a strong young woman. Prayers for you.

Good luck to you and in the future!! Always stay positive and never give up on your dreams. Prayers for u ❤❤😉. Your are Brave/Inspirational!! YOU WILL BE AN AWESOME SOCIAL WORKER!! 😁😀

God Bless you, in the Jesus name you will be healed 🙏🏼❤️

It is well ,you will be okay And yes ladies whenever you feel something wrong in your body go get checked, because if it was never there it is not normal, dont let anyone tell you that it is normal if it has not been there But all in all you will be well

Hi, just found your video. Although my breast cancer seems to be in remission, my protein marker keeps going up. I get scans every 6 months, and see my oncologist regularly. Cancer is the gift that keeps giving! I am glad you are doing well, stay strong!

I can't believe it! I'm going trough an ovarian cancer right now and it's been really hard due to the pandemic. I felt alone and hopeless but hearing your story helped me a lot, thanks for sharing ✨ greetings from México.

Thank you for educating us on this. I’m a Mom of a grown daughter and my heart goes out to you and your poor mom. I know she must have worried fiercely over you. You are smart and will stay on top of this. Good luck sweetheart.

You're such an inspiration for ppl like me who's going thru this horrible experience. God bless you 🙏❤

Omg I can only imagine the anxiety and yes doctor are very quick to prescribe medication instead of trying to figure out the real problem

Your mom sounds like an angel! There is nothing like having your momma who just makes everything better the minute you hear her voice. Your story is so touching that it made me cry, but I am so relieved that you are okay. Thank you for sharing. Praying for you to have a future full of many blessed years. God is so good!

Hi that’s what they told me in graduate school for sw that all these experiences will make me into a intuitive social worker.... glad you are surviving this 😊

You are super strong! I'm impressed you tell your story with such a calm voice. Wishing you the best ❤❤

This was randomly recommended to me and I watched every second. Thank you for sharing your story and I hope more women take uterus and pelvic pain and cramping seriously. I am so glad you are doing better and I wish you the best!! 😊

Omg 22!! You are such a wise soul. I’m watching this video because I’m having some bladder issues. Feels like somethings pressing on it. I can’t stop going P and now my urine has almost stopped. It takes a good minute before it starts coming out. I don’t know what’s going on and I have no medical insurance. Something is seriously wrong.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and bringing awareness to this type of cancer. So brave and strong!

Thank you for sharing your story. You’ve possibly helped someone realize that they need to get checked out and/or have given someone hope♥️

Best of luck to you. What an articulate and lovely young woman you are. I wish you a long and happy future!

this just came into my recommendations but thank you so much for sharing ur story, you’re an incredible woman and i wish you the best. much love from the UK ☺️❤️

Peace and blessings to you for a healthy recovery.

The fact that they twice gave you antibiotics for a severe yeast infection shows why it is imperative to empower yourself with health info. Yeast is a fungus not a bacteria, antibiotics are for bacterial infections. Doctors also like to prescribe antibiotics for viruses like common cold, flu etc.

They dropped the ball for sure. Shoulda had a MRI & Ultrasound right off. I had random cramps on left side for years-had MANY ultrasounds-My pain ended up being a constant tight Psoas muscle ! They never figured it out, my Chiro did.

I dealt with abdominal pain, thinking it was normal until I finally got a CT scan after a year of pain. Turns out I had an extremely rare teratoma tumor (not a cyst), INSIDE my ovary at 15 years old. Thankfully it was benign, but my reproductive health is something I still worry about. You’re so strong! 🙏🏻 thanks for sharing your story!

I had abdominal pain, tiredness, cramps… and always send home with: you have stress, you are a new mom, breastfeeding, hormones etc etc etc. I just heard : you are a woman, deal with it. After I said, it’s something else!! It’s not hormonal, or stress!! Then I went on a lot of doctors appointments before they found out it’s was cervical cancer… Soo, please!! Don’t let you send away just because you are a woman. You know your body, and you know when it’s not okay!

You are sooo mature for your age and I’m so sorry you have had to go through this! It’s honestly my biggest fear l. I hope you’re doing ok now xxx

In the event that it does return you will know the symptoms and so no time will be wasted and you will get the care you need to recover quickly

So happy for you that you caught it early! Sticking up for yourself and having good doctors is so so important. When I first moved to Ireland from the US, I had terribly painful period pain and frequent UTI's. The first doctor I went to only wanted to ask about my sexual activity, and when I told her I had a partner, she insisted over and over in that one appointment that it was my boyfriend that was dirty and not cleaning himself properly, and that I needed to talk to him about improving that because that's why I had recurring UTIs (seriously..). Needless to say, I immediately went to a new doctor, and she didn't hesitate to order a transvaginal ultrasound and send me to an OBGYN. I had multiple large cysts and a lot of vitamin deficiencies that were really wrecking havoc on my body. Everything ended up being ok and was treatable, but I always knew it wasn't "nothing." Whenever I mention something even minor to my new doctor, her attitude is that she has to "prove" to me that I'm ok. I value and appreciate her so much, and wish everyone could have a doctor like I have now!

You are so strong and brave. 💜 keep fighting

Wow, you are so strong. That line towards the end, "We're only given things that we can handle" really hit me hard. I lost my mom to cancer last July and it's been so hard. You made me realize that although I feel like my world is falling apart, I'm getting through it.

Any medical departments you go to and fear and feel something is wrong ask for blood work.period. even if they try to downplay which they always do. Demand the extra work and costs. Simple blood work stops all the belittling and phycological intimidation. That is often their first approach reason ing what is wrong with you.

Thank you so much for sharing such a personal story. I find that there aren't a lot of these sort of intimate videos online that inform about this disease from people who have personally gone through it. Most of the videos i look up are extremely old/vague symptoms etc, and i appreciate you for shedding light on this. I pray that God heals you physically, mentally and spiritually and emotionally.

Wow…I e been going through these exact symptoms since October. Drs found a large mass, and another hemorrhagic cyst. My ovary is torsioned. I can’t stay awake, bloated, Weight gain, treating for uti, constant bathroom runs and no infection present. Nausea all the time and I had a hysterectomy @ 29 (11yrs ago now) due to pre cancerous cells showing on the cervix. In 2002 I had cervical cancer.

Yes I agree it's hard to say the word ..I hate giving it power ...much love and positive vibes to u xxx

This is scarily similar to my experience/symptoms. I got turned away in 2019 about 10 times and was diagnosed in July this year after emergency surgery for my tumor. I lost my right ovary and Fallopian tube. I’m sorry you’re going through this. 💕 Today is my checkup day, just about to go get bloods drawn. 😑

You are blessed and healed in Jesus name. By his stripes

Wow!! You're so strong and inspiring. I have some lower abdominal pain in Jan 2017. It's wasn't bad. In May it was very bad and when June 2017 rolled around it was unbearable. When the pain went to right leg i couldn't walk. After a few hours it went away. I had my good and bad days too. My parents and i pushed to get that ultrasound earlier cause i couldn't wait a whole month. They told me it a 9cm ovarian cyst and it could be a tumor. I was devastated. I was in surgery June June 21st, 2017. They were wrong. I had a very inflamed Uterus and they had to do a complete hysterectomy. I was 32 years old. It was still a shock being told that in the recovery room. It was a scary thing to think that i may have cancer. Thankfully for me it wasn't the case. I hope your cancer doesn't return. Stay safe. xx

Thank you for sharing this story, you are such a strong person! You gave me the courage to go see my doctor🙏

You’re super strong. I’m also struggling wth ovarian cancer now, my surgery is done but am still in pain ☹️my back pain is so severe , i feel so helpless. am waiting for my reports so that doctor could proceed with chemotherapy 🥺 i want to be cancer free,i never thought I’ll have to see this day.🙃

It’s so incredibly eerie how identical our stories are.

God Bless, and keep you safe and healthy.

I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this! Wishing for your healthy recovery. Thank you so much for sharing! X

praying for you and wish you a speedy recovery and a healthy future ❤️

I can not believe how everything lined up for you. Thank God. I'm so glad you got the answers you needed fast even though the beginning was a fight. I hope you stay healthy and well for life. 💕

God bless you 🙏✨ thank you very much for sharing your story. You are helping a lot of people 🌟 Very brave and wise 💕 thank you 💐

Thanks for sharing and best of luck 🤗

You’re a warrior I’m so proud of you look at you! Fighting with us! Please keep us always updated. Praying for you ❤️🥺

Wish you quick recovery ❤❤❤❤

I am so so mad at medical professionals for treating SO many women not like men. I just know that if a man would've had the pain and worry that you had, he would've had a diagnosis way earlier and would've been taken more serious. I'm binge watching ovarian/cervival cancer videos right now to learn how to become a better doctor in terms of the social aspect and l started bawling because l'm so angry at the system and how so many women have to suffer for no damn reason. Thank you for doing this video!

I am watching not the first video about ovarian tumors and I cannot understand why in such developed countries it is a problem for a doctor to send a patient with complaints of lower abdominal pain to an ultrasound scan. We in Russia do not have the best medical service but here a gynecologist immediately sends for an ultrasound scan to check. If there is a cyst doctor sends the patient for a second ultrasound after the start of the female cycle. Then he can send for a blood test for tumor markers of the cyst. The patient can independently do an ultrasound scan in a private clinic (it is not expensive here) and go to a doctor with the results.

This post is from 3 years ago 😢 I hope you made it through, young, lovely lady ❤

I was diagnosed with mucinous cystadenocarcinoma stage 3, 36cm (9kgs of fluid) told to take chemotherapy but not yet on that. My surgery was done last year (left ovary, appendix, omentum removed) Hope for our complete healing💖

You look like an amazing, beautiful person 🌹🥰 you got this. Prayers and tons of hugs and kisses going your way 🥰🌹

Found out that I have cancer this year as well. 2020 sucks.

Your story sounds just like mine down to the size an I was in my 1st year of college 20 years ago! Wow. 17.5 centimeters long size of a 6mth old fetus is what doctors told me! Mine was made up of all the same stuff although they said it was benign? I wonder if they knew of that rare form back then? Ive had so many surgeries after for cysts an adhetions ( they hurt) the labroscopic surgeries hurt worse then regular but u heal faster. I wish you lots of luck. Your lucky you had excellent drs i lost my right ovary in my surgery at 18 so was lot younger than you as well. I cant get over all same symptoms n all. Crazy