Healthywomen iconHealthywomenJun 30, 2026 ~1 min source read

I Survived Ovarian Cancer 3 Times — and I Learned to Fight for Myself

In fact, I'd been eating a lot less than usual — feeling full after just a few bites. Whatever it was, I couldn't button my pants and I was having stomach pains, so I drove myself to the emergency room.

I Survived Ovarian Cancer 3 Times — and I Learned to Fight for Myself

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In fact, I'd been eating a lot less than usual — feeling full after just a few bites.

Whatever it was, I couldn't button my pants and I was having stomach pains, so I drove myself to the emergency room.

He said there was a tumor causing the swelling, and I needed surgery right away.

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The useful part

In fact, I'd been eating a lot less than usual — feeling full after just a few bites. Whatever it was, I couldn't button my pants and I was having stomach pains, so I drove myself to the emergency room. He said there was a tumor causing the swelling, and I needed surgery right away.

How it works

  • The next morning I had emergency surgery to remove the granulosa cell tumor (GCT) — a rare type of ovarian tumor.

What to take from it

We both laughed because we knew there was zero chance that I was pregnant.

Details worth keeping

As told to Jacquelyne Froeber June is National Cancer Survivors Month. "You look like you're pregnant," my roommate said. My stomach was round, swollen and hard — and I didn't know why.

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