How old were you when you were first diagnosed? How was your cancer found? I was 43 years old. In May of 2009, I decided to have a hysterectomy because I had fibroids that caused annoying symptoms. During the operation, my doctor found a cyst on one of my ovaries that did not look like, […]
Tina felt something wasn’t right two years before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Doctors told her that she either had IBS or she was a hypochondriac. Tina would go to the gym, but felt bloated and uncomfortable. One day, she woke up to a very heavy period, and she knew something was wrong. Her […]
This is Riley Benado. She graduated from Paso Robles High School in California just last year, serving as the school’s varsity cheerleading captain. She seems like any other teenager, writing that she loves “wakeboarding, taking pictures, writing poetry, and listening to [her] favorite singer, Taylor Swift.” But there’s something about Riley that she doesn’t share […]
Meet the Runners The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) was named an Official Charity Partner of the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon. The race will take place on Sunday, November 6, 2016. We want you to meet the members of NOCC’s Team Teal, who will be running in the 2016 TCS New York City […]
Ashley Steinberg was diagnosed with stage 1C ovarian cancer just after her 24th birthday, in August 2012. She started noticing that her stomach was bloated, felt hard, and would not flatten. She thought that she maybe was just gaining some weight and decided to wait until her annual exam to bring it up to her […]
Julia was just 7 years old when ovarian cancer struck. Now 18, Julia’s remarkable story is still unfolding … Carrie and her daughter, Julia, discovered that ovarian cancer can strike at any age … and that you can fight back! Little Julia was just a first grader when her unlikely journey began. Energetic, bright, engaged, […]
Megan Pomputius was a 4th grade teacher and mother of a 2-year-old when she was diagnosed with Stage II ovarian cancer. She had a few symptoms, including heavy periods, painful intercourse, and lower back pain. When she first went to her gynecologist, she was diagnosed with ovarian cysts. She underwent multiple ultrasounds over a couple […]
Twenty-four year Survivor and NOCC San Antonio Chapter Volunteer, Marlynn Olivarez, hosted what may be the first ovarian cancer awareness event in the McAllen area. Marlynn partnered with Texas Oncology, who supported the event. Seated next to Marlynn is Dina Hoppenstedt, Senior Oncology Liaison at Texas Oncology. Thank you Marlynn and Dina for helping to educate women and […]
I was seventeen when it all began. It started with bloating and lower-abdominal pain. It was nothing out of the ordinary; I just assumed I was one of those people that had to work out harder. It was always frustrating, but I just assumed it was genetics. I had seen a doctor when it got […]
My mother, Susan, passed away at 55 from Stage 3 ovarian cancer, but in no way did the cancer define who she was. My mom was an incredible woman, daughter, friend, sister, wife, cousin, mother, and grandmother. No matter what corner of the Earth she would travel to, she would always run into someone she […]