How This 24-Year-Old Finally Discovered She Had Ovarian Cancer | ELLE Out Loud

ELLE・2 minutes read

The narrator faced a challenging journey of misdiagnosis, surgery, and chemotherapy for a cancerous dermoid cyst, ultimately embracing a new normal after completing treatment in January 2018.

Insights

  • The narrator's persistent lower right side pain was initially dismissed by a gynecologist but was later correctly diagnosed as a 13-centimeter dermoid cyst with potential cancer concerns, emphasizing the importance of thorough medical evaluation.
  • Despite facing a cancer diagnosis and undergoing chemotherapy, the narrator prioritized fertility preservation by freezing her eggs, highlighting the significance of proactive decision-making and advocating for personal health choices during challenging times.

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Recent questions

  • What symptoms did the narrator experience?

    Pain, weight loss, feeling full constantly

  • How was the cyst initially diagnosed?

    Dismissed as unrelated to a cyst

  • What concerns arose regarding the cyst's size?

    Potential cancer concern

  • What treatment did the narrator undergo?

    Surgery and chemotherapy

  • How did the narrator navigate post-cancer life?

    Embracing a "new normal"

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Summary

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Surviving Cancer: A Journey of Resilience

  • The narrator experienced stabbing pain in her lower right side since high school, worsening in college, leading to a significant episode in August 2017.
  • Despite losing weight and feeling full constantly, the gynecologist initially dismissed her symptoms as unrelated to a cyst.
  • Urgent care revealed a large cyst, initially misdiagnosed as harmless, but later correctly identified as a 13-centimeter dermoid cyst.
  • The ER doctor's call corrected the cyst's size, indicating a potential cancer concern, leading to a gynecologist's confirmation of a benign dermoid cyst.
  • The narrator opted for immediate surgery to remove the cyst and ovary, later discovering the cyst was cancerous, necessitating further treatment.
  • Following a diagnosis of a germ cell tumor, the narrator underwent surgery at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, learning it was curable but required chemotherapy.
  • Concerned about fertility, the narrator chose to freeze her eggs before starting chemotherapy, despite initial doubts.
  • Enduring hair loss and side effects, the narrator completed chemotherapy in January 2018, navigating the challenges of post-cancer life and embracing a "new normal."
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