I just thought I would share my mom’s story. She is at the very beginning of what I’m sure will be a long and hard battle with ovarian cancer. My mom, Sybil, began having very non-specific symptoms in the late winter/early spring of 2010. They included bloating and bowel changes. After numerous visits to both a family practice and GI clinic, she was given the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Knowing full well that it was more than that, and feeling as if that diagnosis was given to her out of simple laziness, she went to her OB-GYN. After a physical exam and CA-125 blood test, she was sent within days to a gynecological oncologist.

Within two weeks, she had surgery. They did a complete hysterectomy and found lesions on her large bowel, omentum, and surface lesions on her liver and diaphragm. All but the lesions on the liver and diaphragm were able to be removed. After a great recovery, she began chemo this week and will do it for six months. My mom is a brave, strong, and remarkable women who has already beaten breast cancer. While the statistics aren’t very cheerful, if anyone can beat it I believe she can!!

Submitted by Brent Rhodes