Endometriosis Testing Discovered Brittany’s Ovarian Cancer
Diseases
Cancer
Issues and Challenges
Brittany has encountered: Copay Issues, Insurance Issues, Rare / Underserved Disease, Surprise Billing
My Story
Here is my Ovarian Cancer story 🦋
On October 6th 2022, I ended up in the Emergency Room for an issue unrelated to Ovarian Cancer. Since I started puberty at age 8 I've struggled with endometriosis.
On my trip to the emergency room the doctor did his normal checkup producer. While doing this he felt that my abdomen was sensitive in certain areas. I explained that I have advanced endometriosis and that it was probably an ovarian cyst. He decided to order a CT with contrast and a transvaginal ultrasound. The test results concluded that I needed to see my OB immediately due to a large ovarian cyst.
I was immediately at my OB three days later. It was determined that my best option was a full hysterectomy at the age of 31 nearly 32 with no children. The hysterectomy was much more complicated due to the fact that the large 15cm ovarian cyst was actually my right ovary. Four tumors were found during my hysterectomy. My OB stated that everything looked normal and he even told me that my tumors were not cancer before pathology returned. Feeling confident when I was discharged from the hospital I thought the most difficult part was over. On October 20th, 2022 ( my 32nd birthday) my world changed forever. I was diagnosed with a rare high grade form of Ovarian Cancer called Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma. Stage was fully unknown due to the ovary being drained into my abdomen. This spread my cancer cells.
Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma is a rare form of Ovarian Cancer associated with endometriosis. I was officially diagnosed after an additional staging/debulking surgery at stage II OCCC. I have no genetic disposition to this cancer.
On December 14, 2022, I started my first round of chemotherapy out of 6. It's strange being a cancer patient at the age of 32 and 33. I had major complications during treatment, and my body is having a difficult time adjusting to the trauma it's experienced. On April 17, 2023 I finished 6 rounds of Taxol and Carboplatin, 5 blood transfusions, 6 bone marrow shots, and 5 fluid infusions.
Having cancer has been the most unexpected journey of my life. My form of Ovarian Cancer has an extremely high reoccurrence rate, and I live with that everyday. I hope that sharing my story can help at least one woman!
Thank you, Brittany Turner
My Motivation and Inspiration
I want to bring awareness to ovarian cancer and the cost of cancer treatment.
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