Courtesy National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
Jackie Urbanczyk is 64 years old. In November of 2013, Jackie was seeing a new internist for her annual physical exam. Her new doctor performed a pelvic exam during the check-up and felt something unusual. She immediately sent Jackie for a transvaginal ultrasound. An hour later, Jackie found out that she had a complicated mass on her left ovary. Jackie was referred to a gynecologic oncologist and an immediate hysterectomy was scheduled. On Nov. 13, 2013, Jackie underwent surgery and was given the diagnosis of Stage III ovarian cancer.
Jackie’s doctor recommended IP (interperitoneal) chemotherapy, which required a port in her shoulder and another in her abdominal cavity. She underwent six cycles of chemotherapy over a period of 18 weeks. Though the treatments were intense, Jackie tolerated them very well and felt great most of the time. Jackie started to lose her hair 13 days after her first chemotherapy treatment. As soon as her hair started to fall out, Jackie decided to shave her head and donate her hair to an organization that makes wigs for children. At the conclusion of her last chemotherapy treatment, Jackie was told that she had no evidence of disease.
Jackie returned to her part-time job and resumed all of the travel plans she had put on hold after her diagnosis. She was not anxious about her three-month check-up, since she was feeling terrific. However, a scan at the appointment showed that new tumors had grown. Jackie’s doctor recommended a biopsy and had it sent out for molecular profiling. Meanwhile, Jackie started chemotherapy again. After three cycles, a scan showed the disease had worsened. By then, the molecular profiling report was back, showing three mutations, along with the agents to use to attack the mutations.
Jackie started her new treatment in December of 2014. Once again, she lost all of her hair. After three cycles of chemotherapy, Jackie’s tumors were reduced by 50%. After an additional three cycles, there was another 3% reduction. Jackie’s body needed a rest from the intense treatment, so Jackie’s doctor decided to administer Avastin every two weeks, as a preventative measure.
Jackie and her husband enjoyed a 40th anniversary trip to the Canadian Rockies and a family trip to the beach. The reprieve from chemotherapy was a nice break, and Jackie’s hair even started to grow back. However, in September of 2015, Jackie’s CA-125, a tumor marker for ovarian cancer, was elevated. Her doctor started her on a new treatment plan. Jackie has concluded cycle eight of the new treatment. While her CA-125 remains higher than normal, CT scans show that the disease is stable.
Jackie’s doctor says that there are no drugs that can eliminate her tumors altogether, and that she will need to be on chemotherapy for the rest of her life to prevent growth of existing tumors. Immunology results have shown complete eradication of tumors in some people, so Jackie is hopeful. She has undergone a total of 74 chemotherapy infusions in a 28-month period.
Even after all of her struggles, Jackie says that she has many blessings. One is that she feels great most of the time. Another is her relationship with her doctor. Jackie says, “My doctor realizes how important quality of life is to patients like me. She works with me to alter treatment schedules, so I don’t miss important moments in my life. For that, I am so grateful.” Jackie’s biggest blessing is the support of her family and friends. She has a wonderful husband and she says she couldn’t have asked for a better caregiver. Jackie’s friends and family have been incredibly supportive throughout her journey.
Over 22,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year and over 14,000 women will die of the disease. It’s so lethal, because it’s often diagnosed in an advanced stage. Jackie was stunned at her diagnosis, since she had none of the common symptoms of ovarian cancer, which include bloating, feeling the need to urinate frequently or urgently, pelvic pain, and decreased appetite/feeling full quickly. These common, vague symptoms are often attributed to other conditions.
The majority of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are over the age of 60. As women age, their doctors may suggest that an annual Pap test is no longer necessary. Patients often interpret this to mean that they don’t need to visit their gynecologist annually. However, there is more to a gynecology appointment than a Pap test, and women should still have an annual pelvic exam.
It’s important to note that the Pap test does not detect ovarian cancer; it’s a screening test for cervical cancer only. There’s no consistently reliable screening test to detect ovarian cancer. This is why it’s imperative for women to be familiar with the symptoms of ovarian cancer. If a woman experiences one or more symptoms for two weeks or longer, she should see her doctor.
The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) is a fantastic resource for ovarian cancer information and support. Since its inception in 1991, the NOCC has been committed to raising awareness, promoting education, and funding research in support of women, families, and communities touched by ovarian cancer. NOCC remains steadfast in its mission to save lives by fighting tirelessly to prevent and cure ovarian cancer, and to improve the quality of life for survivors.
For more information, please visit www.ovarian.org.
